What is thermodynamics? What does statistical physics teach us? In the pages of this slim book, we confront the answers. The reader will discover that where thermodynami cs provi des a 1 arge scal e, macroscopi c theory of the ef fects of temperature on physical systems, statistical mechanics provides the microscopic analysis of these effects which, invariably, are the results of thermal disorder. A number of systems in nature undergo dramatic changes in aspect and in their properties when subjected to changes in ambient temperature or pres sure, or when electric or magnetic fields are applied. The ancients already knew that a liquid, a solid, or a gas can represent different states of the same matter. But what is meant by "state"? It is here that the systematic study of magnetic materials has provided one of the best ways of examining this question, which is one of the principal concerns of statistical physics (alias "statistical mechanics") and of modern thermodynamics.

"Quantum Theory of Magnetism" is the only book that deals with the phenomenon of magnetism from the point of view of "linear response". That is, how does a magnetic material respond when excited by a magnetic field? That field may be uniform, or spatially varying, static or time dependent. Previous editions have dealt primarily with the magnetic response. This edition incorporates the resistive response of magnetic materials as well. It also includes problems to test the reader's (or student's) comprehension. The rationale for a book on magnetism is as valid today as it was when the first two editions of Quantum Theory of Magnetism were published. Magnetic phenomena continue to be discovered with deep scientific implications and novel applications. Since the Second Edition, for example, Giant Magneto Resistance (GMR) was discovered and the new field of "spintronics" is currently expanding. Not only do these phenomena rely on the concepts presented in this book, but magnetic properties are often an important clue to our understanding of new materials (e.g., high-temperature superconductors). Their magnetic properties, studied by susceptibility measurements, nuclear magnetic resonance, neutron scattering, etc. have provided insight to the superconductivity state.This updated edition offers revised emphasis on some material as a result of recent developments and includes new material, such as an entire chapter on thin film magnetic multilayers. Researchers and students once again have access to an up-to-date classic reference on magnetism, the key characteristic of many modern materials.

Starting with a historical introduction to the study of magnetism - one of the oldest sciences known to man - before considering the most modern theories and observations (magnetic bubbles and soap films, effects of magnetic impurities in metals and spin glasses), this book develops the concepts and the mathematical expertise necessary to understand contemporary research in this field. Magnetic systems are important in technology and applied science, but they are also prototypes of more complex mathematical structures of great importance to theoretical physics. These connections are made repeatedly in this volume. After development of the necessary quantum theory of angular momentum and of interacting electron systems, a number of models which have been successful in the interpretation of experimental results are introduced: the Ising model, the Heisenberg model, the Stoner theory, the Kondo phenomenon, and so on. In the second edition the thorough approach and the main features which made the first edition a popular text have been retained. All important theories are worked out in detail using methods and notation that are uniform throughout. Footnotes and an extensive bibliography provide a guide to the original literature. A number of problems test the reader's skill.

This book, in the broadest sense, is an application of quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics to the field of magnetism. Under certain well described conditions, an immensely large number of electrons moving in the solid will collectively produce permanent magnetism. Permanent magnets are of fundamental interest, and magnetic materials are of great practical importance as they provide a large field of technological applications. The physical details describing the many electron problem of magnetism are presented in this book on the basis of the density functional approximation. The emphasis is on realistic magnets, for which the equations describing properties of the many electron problem can only be solved by using computers. The significant recent and continuing improvements are, to a very large extent, responsible for the progress in this field. Along with an introduction to the density functional theory, the book describes representative computational methods and detailed formulas for physical properties of magnets which include among other things the computation of magnetic ordering temperatures, the giant magneto-resistance, magneto-optical effects, weak ferromagnetism, the anomalous Hall and Nernst effects, and novel quasiparticles, such as Weyl fermions and magnetic skyrmions.

One of the first books to approach magnetism from a metal physics perspective, Permanent Magnetism presents research ideas that are being translated into commercial reality for ferrite and Nd-Fe-B magnets, and follows the discovery of interstitial, intermetallic materials. Written by well-known authors, the book contains a comprehensive yet concise treatment of the fundamental theory underlying permanent magnetism and illustrates applications with modern, permanent magnetic materials, including ceramics and intermetallic compounds. Each chapter contains worked examples to reinforce applications and the appendices include detailed mathematics and tabular data on material properties.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1872. The publishing house Anatiposi publishes historical books as reprints. Due to their age, these books may have missing pages or inferior quality. Our aim is to preserve these books and make them available to the public so that they do not get lost.