Vector Preisach Models of Hysteresis

Abstract

In magnetics, research on the modelling of scalar and vector hysteresis has been pursued along two quite distinct lines. Modeling of scalar hysteresis has been dominated by the Preisach approach. This approach can be traced back to a landmark paper [12]; it has proved to be very successful and has won many followers. On the other hand, phenomenological modelling of vector hysteresis has long been centered around the classical Stoner-Wohlfarth (S-W) model [3]. As a result, this model has been further developed and used in the area of magnetic recording [55–57]. The attractiveness of the S-W model can be attributed to its strong appeal to physical intuition. This appeal is, in turn, based on the fact that the S-W model is designed as an ensemble of single-domain, uniaxial magnetic particles. Since these particles have some features of physical realities, the S-W model is usually regarded as a physical (not mathematical) model. Due to its popularity in magnetics, the S-W model is a natural benchmark for comparison with other vector hysteresis models. This is the main reason why we precede our discussion of vector Preisach models by the discussion of the S-W model.