noun
- a type of magnetism in which atomic magnetic moments are aligned in opposite directions but have unequal magnitudes, resulting in a net magnetic moment
Usage: physics; materials science
Examples
- Ferrimagnetism occurs in materials where two sublattices of atoms have opposing magnetic moments that do not cancel completely.
- Iron oxide compounds exhibit ferrimagnetism, making them useful in magnetic recording applications.
- Unlike ferromagnetism, ferrimagnetism involves antiparallel alignment of magnetic moments with different magnitudes.
- Ferrites display ferrimagnetism and are commonly used in transformers and inductors.
- The net magnetization in ferrimagnetism arises from the imbalance between the two opposing magnetic sublattices.