Simple Models of Magnetism

For hundreds of years, models of magnetism have been pivotal in the understanding and advancement of science and technology, from the Earth's interpretation as a magnetic dipole to quantum mechanics, statistical physics, and modern nanotechnology. This book is the first to envision the field of magnetism in its entirety. It complements a rich literature on specific models of magnetism and provides an introduction to simple models, including some simple limits of complicated models. The book is written in an easily accessible style, with a limited amount of mathematics, and covers a wide range of quantum-mechanical, finite-temperature, micromagnetic and dynamical models. It deals not only with basic magnetic quantities, such as moment, Curie temperature, anisotropy, and coercivity, but also with modern areas such as nanomagnetism and spintronics, and with 'exotic' themes, as exemplified by the polymer analogy of magnetic phase transitions. Throughout the book, a sharp line is drawn between simple and simplistic models, and much space is devoted to discuss the merits and failures of the individual model approaches.

Ralph Skomski
Research Associate Professor
Center for Materials Research and Analysis
University of Nebraska 2002- present Research Associate Professor, University of Nebraska
1999-2002 Research Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska
1998 Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska
1995-1997 Postdoctoral Researcher, MPI fur Mikrostrukturphysik, Halle
1991-1995 Postdoctoral Researcher, Trinity College, Dublin
1991 Ph.D., TU Dresden, Thesis "Theory of partially ordered magnetic solids"
1986 Dipl.-Phys., THLM Merseburg, Thesis: "Theory of the elasticity of polymer networks"