Micromagnetic simulation of an antiferromagnetic particle

[Display omitted] •A continuous micromagnetic model is derived for an antiferromagnet.•The resulting PDE are solved by FEM for a spherical uniaxial particle.•Without the dipole interactions spin flop/flip transitions are predicted.•Introducing dipole interactions different magnetization modes appear. A continuum micromagnetic model is derived, describing an antiferromagnet. Using the finite element method, magnetization curves are calculated for a spherical uniaxial particle, varying the particle’s size and the anisotropy field strength. Different magnetization processes appear by increasing the size of the particle. For large particles nucleation and expansion of a reversed domain is observed, separated by an almost 90° wall. An estimation of the single domain radius Rc is made.