Difference Between Curie Temperature and Neel Temperature

The key difference between Curie temperature and Neel temperature is that Curie temperature is the temperature at which certain materials lose their permanent magnetic properties whereas Neel temperature is the temperature above which certain antiferromagnetic materials become paramagnetic

In brief, the terms Curie temperature and Neel temperature describe the magnetic properties of certain substances. Moreover, it is important to note that these are values with high temperatures.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Neel Temperature
3. What is Curie Temperature 
4. Similarities Between Curie Temperature and Neel Temperature
5. Side by Side Comparison – Curie Temperature vs Neel Temperature in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Curie Temperature?

Curie temperature is the temperature at or above which certain materials lose their permanent magnetic properties. This is a sharp change in the magnetic properties of materials. Induced magnetism can often replace this lost magnetism. Permanent magnetism arises due to the alignment of magnetic moments of the material while induced magnetism arises when we force disordered magnetic moments to align in the presence of a magnetic field.

At or above the Curie temperature, the ordered magnetic moments change into a disordered state, which causes the materials to change from ferromagnetic to paramagnetic. Therefore, higher temperatures can make magnets weaker. Moreover, spontaneous magnetism arises only below the Curie temperature. In addition, this term was named after Pierre Curie, who discovered that magnetism is lost at a critical temperature.

What is Neel Temperature?

Neel temperature is the temperature above which certain antiferromagnetic materials become paramagnetic. To be specific, antiferromagnetic means the magnetic moments of the material are aligned in a regular pattern. It is similar to ferromagnetism and ferrimagnetism. Furthermore, at Neel temperature, the energy of heat is enough to destroy the regular pattern of the magnetic moments.

What are the Similarities Between Curie Temperature and Neel Temperature?

• Curie temperature and Neel temperature describe the magnetic properties of certain substances.
• Moreover, both are high-temperature values.

What is the Difference Between Curie Temperature and Neel Temperature?

Curie temperature and Neel temperature are high-temperature values. The key difference between Curie temperature and Neel temperature is that at Curie temperature, the permanent magnetic properties of certain materials are lost whereas, at Neel temperature, antiferromagnetic materials become paramagnetic. The following infographic summarizes the difference between Curie temperature and Neel temperature.

Summary – Curie Temperature vs Neel Temperature

In brief, Curie temperature and Neel temperature are high-temperature values. The key difference between Curie temperature and Neel temperature is that at Curie temperature, the permanent magnetic properties of certain materials are lost whereas at Neel temperature antiferromagnetic materials become paramagnetic.

Reference:

1. “Curie Point.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Susceptibility” By Petergans (talk) – I (Petergans (talk)) created this work entirely by myself (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia