Superparamagnetism and Monte Carlo Simulations

We summarize the basic concepts beneath the idea of superparamagnetism and introduce the Monte Carlo (MC) method as a powerful tool for studying superparamagnetic (SPM) properties. Starting with the description of the physical features of the single-domain SPM entities, we concentrate on their special magnetic properties as a function of time, temperature, and applied magnetic field. Then, we give a general approach to the use of a MC technique for studying SPM properties, focusing on the use of the Metropolis algorithm and discussing the importance of the choice of the MC steps in the simulations.