Past exam of the condensed matter physics course of the University of Oxford / 2022 / 4 / b / iii / Solution

The Weiss temperature $\Theta$ is the extrapolated zero of $1/\chi$ in a Curie–Weiss law fit. It summarizes the leading high-temperature effect of interactions between magnetic moments. For the sign conventionwhere ${\mathbf{J}}_i$ are dimensionless angular momentum operators, mean-field theory givesThus positive net exchange interaction in this convention favours parallel magnetic moments, giving $\Theta >0$ and tendencies towards ferromagnetism; negative net exchange interaction favours antiparallel magnetic moments, giving $\Theta <0$ and antiferromagnetic tendencies. Competing interactions can partially cancel in this sum. The Weiss temperature need not equal the actual ordering temperature, and its sign alone is not a complete determination of the low-temperature ordered structure.