Spin glass

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In condensed matter physics, a spin glass is a magnetic state characterized by randomness, despite cooperative behavior in freezing of spins at a temperature called the "freezing temperature," Tf. In ferromagnetic solids, component atoms' magnetic spins all align in the same direction. When contrasted with a ferromagnet, a spin glass is defined as a "disordered" magnetic state in which spins are aligned and coupled without a regular pattern. A spin glass should not be confused with a "spin-on glass." The latter is a thin film which is applied via spin coating, and is usually based on SiO2. The term "glass" comes from an analogy between the magnetic disorder in a spin glass and the positional disorder of a conventional, chemical glass (e.g., a window glass). In any amorphous solid, such as window glass, the atomic bond structure is highly irregular; in contrast, a crystal has a uniform pattern of atomic bonds. In ferromagnetic solids, magnetic spins all align in the same direction; this...

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