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Updated: Nov 9, 2025
08:55
Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
Published on: June 7, 2018
8.7K
Ground state of magnetocrystals.
1GRASP, Institute of Physics B5a, University of Liège, B4000 Liège, Belgium.
Physical Review. E
|April 17, 2021
Summary
Neodymium magnets self-assemble into stable structures due to dipole-dipole interactions. Hybrid magnetocrystals with alternating antiparallel dipole planes exhibit the lowest magnetic energy, similar to ionic solids.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Spherical neodymium magnets are inexpensive model systems.
- Dipolar particles self-assemble into diverse structures (1D chains to 3D crystals).
- Dipole-dipole interactions provide stability to these self-assembled architectures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore ordered structures formed by self-assembling dipolar particles.
- To identify the most stable magnetic crystal structures.
- To investigate the magnetic energy of hybrid magnetocrystals.
Main Methods:
- Experimental observation of self-assembled structures.
- Analysis of magnetic dipole-dipole interactions.
- Computational modeling of magnetic energy.
Main Results:
- Ordered structures, including 1D chains and 3D crystals, were observed.
- Hybrid magnetocrystals, featuring alternating hexagonal planes of antiparallel dipoles, were identified.
- These hybrid magnetocrystals possess the lowest magnetic energy among the explored structures.
Conclusions:
- The lowest magnetic energy in ordered structures is achieved by hybrid magnetocrystals.
- This magnetic cohesion is analogous to the Madelung lattice energy in ionic solids.
- Neodymium magnets serve as effective, low-cost models for studying self-assembly and magnetic interactions.
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