The term "helimagnetism" describes the magnetic properties of helical structures in materials such as DNA or proteins. The word is comprised of "heli-" meaning spiral and "magnetism" meaning the force produced by the movement of electrons. The IPA phonetic transcription of "helimagnetism" is /ˈhɛliˌmæɡnəˌtɪzəm/. The stress is on the second syllable (HE-li-mag-NE-tism) and the vowel sounds are pronounced as "e" (as in "set"), "a" (as in "cat"), and "i" (as in "hit").
Helimagnetism refers to a phenomenon in condensed matter physics where a helical spin arrangement or a helical magnetic structure is observed within a material at low temperatures. It is characterized by the formation of a helix-like magnetic structure, where adjacent atomic spins are arranged in a helical pattern rather than being aligned in a parallel or antiparallel fashion. This unique magnetic order arises due to the interplay between various interactions, including exchange, Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya, and spin-orbit coupling.
In helimagnetic materials, the spins of the constituent atoms follow a helical path along the crystal lattice, resulting in the formation of a helical magnetic moment that extends throughout the material. This helical arrangement typically arises in certain ferromagnetic materials when the system competes between minimizing its exchange energy and minimizing the Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interaction energy. As a result, helimagnetic materials often exhibit interesting physical properties, such as non-collinear magnetization, spin spirals, and topological magnetization textures.
The study of helimagnetism plays a crucial role in understanding the behavior of magnetic materials, as it provides insights into exotic magnetic phenomena and potential applications in spintronics and magnetic storage devices. Researchers continue to explore the properties and applications of helimagnetic materials, aiming to further harness their unique characteristics for technological advancements in the field of magnetism and beyond.
The word "helimagnetism" is a combination of two terms: "heli" and "magnetism".
1. "Heli" is derived from the Greek word "helios", which means "sun". This may be an allusion to the sun-like qualities or properties exhibited by certain materials in terms of their response to magnetic fields.
2. "Magnetism" refers to the property or phenomenon exhibited by materials that generate an attractive or repulsive force in the presence of magnetic fields.
Therefore, "helimagnetism" can be understood as a term used to describe the magnetic properties or behavior of certain materials with sun-like characteristics. It is a specialized term used in the field of physics.