Magnetism - definition

Magnetism is the fundamental physical phenomenon associated with the interaction of bodies through magnetic fields, resulting from the motion of electric charges and the magnetic moments of elementary particles such as electrons. Classically, magnetism is one aspect of the electromagnetic interactions described by Maxwell's equations, which combine time-varying electric and magnetic fields.

The sources of magnetic fields are electric currents, or the orderly motion of charges, and the intrinsic magnetic moments of particles, related to their spin and orbital angular momentum. Different types of behaviour can be exhibited by matter in response to an external magnetic field, classified as diamagnetism, paramagnetism, ferromagnetism, ferrimagnetism and anti-ferromagnetism.

Ferromagnetism, observed in materials such as iron, nickel and cobalt, is characterised by the spontaneous orientation of magnetic domains, leading to the existence of permanent magnetic fields of their own. Diamagnetics, on the other hand, tend to displace the external magnetic field, while paramagnetics enhance it, albeit in a weak and impermanent manner.

In technological applications, magnetism plays a key role in the construction of Electric Motors, transformers, induction coils, magnetic recording devices and medical diagnostic systems such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). On the microscopic scale, magnetism plays a fundamental role in condensed matter theory, influencing the electron and structural properties of materials. Phenomena such as the Hall effect, magnetoresistance or superconductivity with magnetic quantum flux are examples of advanced manifestations of magnetism in physical systems.

Modern research into magnetism also extends to the fields of spintronics and magnonics, where the manipulation of the spin of electrons enables the design of new generations of devices Mass Storage, spin transistors and quantum communication systems.

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