A macroscopic nickel specimen can split into magnetic domains, each with nonzero local spontaneous magnetization but with different orientations. Their vector contributions can cancel, giving an almost zero measured net magnetization below the Curie temperature. This reduces the external stray-field energy, at the expense of magnetic domain wall energy; the balance favours a multidomain state in many ordinary specimens.
An applied magnetic field can move magnetic domain walls and rotate the domain moments, revealing a large response and eventually saturation magnetization. Thus a zero average does not mean that each local moment has become thermally disordered or that the material is above its Curie temperature. Preparation, shape and domain-wall pinning influence remanence.
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