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Magnetism and the Weiss Exchange Field-A Theoretical Analysis Motivated by Recent Experiments

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Abstract

The huge spin precession frequency observed in recent experiments with spin-polarized beams of hot electrons shot through magnetized films is interpreted as being caused by Zeeman coupling of the electron spins to the so-called Weiss exchange field in the film. The microscopic origin of exchange interactions and of large mean exchange fields, leading to different types of magnetic order, is elucidated. A microscopic derivation of the equations of motion of the Weiss exchange field is presented. Novel proofs of the existence of phase transitions in quantum XY-models and antiferromagnets, based on an analysis of the statistical distribution of the exchange field, are presented.

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Author notes

  1. L. Ferrari

    Present address: Collegio Papio, Ascona, Switzerland

  2. B. Schlein

    Present address: Department of Mathematics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Theoretical Physics, ETH-Hönggerberg, CH-8093, Zürich, China

    C. Albert, L. Ferrari, J. Fröhlich & B. Schlein

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  1. C. Albert
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  2. L. Ferrari
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  3. J. Fröhlich
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  4. B. Schlein
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Correspondence to C. Albert.

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Supported in part by the Swiss National Foundation

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Albert, C., Ferrari, L., Fröhlich, J. et al. Magnetism and the Weiss Exchange Field-A Theoretical Analysis Motivated by Recent Experiments. J Stat Phys 125, 77–124 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10955-006-9120-0

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