Nearest-neighbor interactions

Nearest-neighbor interactions refer to the way particles or elements in a system influence each other primarily with their closest neighbors. Imagine a line of people holding hands; each person feels the pull from only the people directly next to them, not those farther away. In materials, atoms or spins interact most strongly with their immediate neighbors, determining properties like magnetism or structure. This focus on local interactions simplifies understanding complex systems by emphasizing how immediate surroundings shape behavior, which is crucial in fields like physics, chemistry, and material science.