Néel relaxation

Néel relaxation is a process by which tiny magnetic particles, called superparamagnetic particles, change the direction of their internal magnetic moment without physically rotating. In essence, their magnetic poles flip back and forth, allowing the particle’s magnetization to fluctuate. This switching happens because thermal energy causes the magnetic moment to overcome an energy barrier, especially when the particle’s size is very small. Néel relaxation is important in fields like medical imaging and data storage, as it affects how these particles respond to magnetic fields, influencing their behavior in applications that rely on precise magnetic control.