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Condensed Matter & Materials Physics

Curie-Weiss Law

A thermodynamic law describing the magnetic susceptibility of a ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic material in its paramagnetic phase above the Curie temperature T_C.

Governing formula χ_m = C / (T - T_C) (for T > T_C)
SI unit Dimensionless (Magnetic Susceptibility)

In depth

Above the Curie temperature T_C, thermal agitation overcomes spontaneous domain alignment. As temperature decreases toward T_C, magnetic susceptibility χ_m diverges toward infinity.

Examples in the real world

Measuring paramagnetic susceptibility divergence in iron above its 1043 K (770 °C) Curie temperature.