Hysteresis modeling and its application to soft magnetic materials

Abstract
The main aspects of hysteresis in magnetic materials are reviewed, and some theoretical methods for their description are discussed. Particular emphasis is given to Preisach-type models of hysteresis, which yield a unified treatment of rate-independent phenomena, eddy-current dissipation and thermal relaxation. Expressions for the free energy and the entropy production are given, which provide a proper general basis for the interpretation of magnetization curves, losses, thermal relaxation. In particular, they permit one to clarify the nature of the states of minimum Gibbs energy and their relationship to the anhysteretic magnetization curve. Lines of possible development, concerning in particular the connection between microstructural and magnetic properties, are indicated.