antiferromagnetic ordering

Antiferromagnetic ordering is a type of magnetic behavior where adjacent atomic magnetic moments (tiny magnetic regions within atoms) align in opposite directions, canceling each other out. Imagine a line of tiny bar magnets where each magnet points in the opposite direction to its neighbor. This results in no overall magnetic field, making the material appear non-magnetic at larger scales. This order occurs at very low temperatures and is a fundamental property of certain materials, influencing their electrical and magnetic properties, and is important in technologies like spintronics and magnetic storage.