Magnetic ordering in ferrimagnetic materials Ferrimagnetic materials have anti-parallel orientation of equal magnetic dipole moments. Is this statement correct?

Introduction / Context:
Magnetic solids can display different microscopic orderings: ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, and ferrimagnetic, among others. The distinction between anti-parallel sublattices with equal or unequal moments determines whether the net magnetization cancels or remains nonzero, which is central to device applications in recording heads, spintronics, and RF components.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Two or more magnetic sublattices present (e.g., in ferrites).
• Exchange interactions align sublattices anti-parallel.
• Moments per sublattice may differ in magnitude.

Concept / Approach:

In antiferromagnets, sublattice moments are anti-parallel and equal in magnitude, giving zero net magnetization. In ferrimagnets, sublattice moments are anti-parallel but unequal, yielding a nonzero net magnetization. Thus, the statement attributing “equal moments” to ferrimagnetism is incorrect; it instead describes antiferromagnetism.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Common ferrites (e.g., magnetite Fe3O4, YIG) are ferrimagnetic with unequal sublattice moments; they exhibit spontaneous magnetization and hysteresis below their Curie temperatures.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

(a) contradicts the definition; (c) “only below Curie” misses the unequal moment requirement; (d) correctly names antiferromagnets but does not answer the truth of the original statement; (e) paramagnets have no ordered sublattices.

Common Pitfalls:

Confusing “anti-parallel” with “equal magnitude.” Both antiferromagnets and ferrimagnets are anti-parallel, but only the former have equal magnitudes leading to cancellation.

Final Answer:

False