Modeling of magnetizing processes

Quasi-static magnetic processes such as those found in magnetic recording are examined. The hysteresis in medium-hard magnetic materials of the type used in recording media and the magnetizability of soft magnetic materials such as those used in recording heads are discussed. Two general modeling techniques are used to describe these processes: physical modeling and phenomenological modeling. In physical modeling, the basic processes involved are simulated in order to be able to describe the basic magnetizing modes. In phenomenological models, the gross behavior of the material is described mathematically by Preisach-type models in order to couple the material properties to Maxwell's equations so as to obtain solutions of field problems. The latter models are computationally more efficient than the former, but they do not give any insight into the physical principles involved