Anisotropy can be defined as the property of a material that allows it to change its properties or assume different properties in different directions. It can be explained as the quality of materials that allow the materials to exhibit properties differently in different directions as measured along an axis. The property of anisotropy can be easily observed in single crystals of solid materials such as solid elements and compounds. On the other hand, it can be rarely observed in liquids and gases due to the random distribution of particles.
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Isotropic and Anisotropic Meaning
Isotropic can be defined as that property of a material that is independent of direction. On the other hand, anisotropic is the property that is primarily dependent on direction. Both isotropic and anisotropic are used to explain the properties of crystalline materials. As mentioned above, crystalline solids exhibit the property of anisotropy and are called anisotropic crystals. Other than crystalline solids, some other solids also exhibit this property and are called Anisotropic solids. Here is a brief difference between isotropic and anisotropic.
Properties of Isotropic and Anisotropic
In physics, magnetic anisotropy is the phenomena that explain how an object’s magnetic property can be different depending on directions. It is often observed that magnetically anisotropic materials will be easier or harder to magnetize depending on the direction of rotation of the object.
Magnetic anisotropy in an object can be affected by various reasons. The below are the factors on which the magnetic anisotropy of an object depends:
Magnetocrystalline Anisotropy: It is mainly found in ferromagnetic materials. A ferromagnetic material takes more energy in a specific direction to magnetize. These directions are about the principal axis of the crystalline material.
Shape Anisotropy: Anisotropy depends on the shape of the object. If a material is not perfectly spherical, then it cannot be magnetized in all the direction equally, thereby creating more than one easy axis.
Magnetoelastic Anisotropy: It is the property of a magnetic material that allows it to change its magnetizing property when subjected to an external force. In simple words, it is the property that changes the magnetization of a magnetic material.
Exchange Anisotropy: It is a phenomenon that occurs when antiferromagnetic materials react with ferromagnetic materials.
Fluorescence Anisotropy or fluorescence polarization can be defined as the phenomenon, where the light emitted by a fluorophore is unequal when measured along different axes of polarization.
When a valence electron in acetylene and benzene circulate under the influence of an external field, it forms a local diamagnetic current. This local diamagnetic current helps in the deshielding of protons, and the whole process is termed Diamagnetic Anisotropy.
Applications of Anisotropy
Anisotropy has applications in different fields, and some of them are mentioned below:
In the field of computer graphics, anisotropic surfaces tend to change their appearances when rotated around their geometric normal. Anisotropic filtering is a process used in computer graphics to enhance the image quality of textures on far away surfaces.
In the field of chemistry, an anisotropic chemical filter is used to filter out particles. These filters prove to be efficient in the filtration process of particles and allow a great flow of the particles.
In Fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence anisotropy is used to determine the shape of a macromolecule.
The materials used in heat sources that help in the conduction and rejection of heat are often made of anisotropic materials.
In the field of medicine, anisotropy is used in medical ultrasound imaging.