Magnetic Phase Transition
A magnetic phase transition occurs when a material changes its magnetic properties due to variations in temperature or external magnetic fields. For example, as a material cools, it may transition from a disordered state, where magnetic moments are randomly oriented, to an ordered state, where they align in a specific direction. This change can significantly affect the material's magnetic behavior.
One common example of a magnetic phase transition is the transition from paramagnetism to ferromagnetism in materials like iron. At high temperatures, iron exhibits paramagnetic behavior, but as it cools below a certain temperature, known as the Curie temperature, it becomes ferromagnetic, displaying a strong, permanent magnetization.