Anisotropic

Properties and address

In anisotropics, temperature , elasticity and conductivity , among other properties, change according to the direction in which they are examined. Whenever a physical property is capable of being represented through a tensor magnitude, it can show anisotropic behavior.

To know the symmetry of a property, mathematical groups are used. In this way, a subgroup that is part of a rotation symmetry group allows us to characterize the kind of anisotropy that a certain property has.

If the property does not vary under the influence of the group of rotations of three-dimensional space, it does not have anisotropy. On the contrary, it can be said that it presents isotropy .

For optics

Anisotropy is usually examined in the field of optics . When there is an anisotropic medium, changes in the refractive indices are recorded: light, in this framework, is transmitted at different speeds depending on the directions considered. There is, therefore, a range of refractive indices.

The anisotropic medium, on the other hand, produces a double refraction . This is because light incident perpendicular to the surface is divided into two rays, which move through the medium with different paths and different speeds.

Guys

Anisotropics can be grouped into different types, taking into account different characteristics of the properties that are affected. This classification covers various areas of science and technology. Let's see below some of the most important types of anisotropy:

Magnetic anisotropy : refers to the directional dependence of magnetic properties . A magnetically anisotropic material can have different magnetic characteristics in different directions. This may be due to the crystalline structure of the material, the presence of external magnetic fields, or other factors;
Optical anisotropy – An optically anisotropic material shows different refractive indices or transmittance of light in different directions. The cause may be the molecular or crystalline structure of the material, which affects the interaction of light with the material;
thermal anisotropy – the directional dependence of thermal properties. A thermally anisotropic material can conduct heat differently in different directions . The reasons may be the crystal structure, the orientation of chemical bonds or the presence of defects in the material;
Elastic anisotropy : An elastically anisotropic material exhibits different moduli of elasticity or Poisson's ratios in different directions. This can occur due to the orientation of the crystals, the molecular structure or the presence of discontinuities;
Transport anisotropy : refers to the directional dependence of transport properties, such as electrical conductivity or thermal conductivity. The material will conduct electricity or heat differently in different directions due to the crystal structure , the orientation of the domains, or the presence of defects.

Applications of anisotropy

Anisotropy has a wide variety of applications in various scientific and technological fields, such as:

• electronics and semiconductor devices – Magnetic anisotropy is used in the manufacturing of data storage devices, such as hard drives and solid-state memories. Magnetically anisotropic materials allow data to be stored and read by manipulating the direction of magnetization;


The study of anisotropic materials is applied in fields such as electronics, geophysics and optics.

• Geophysics – Used in geophysical studies to understand the properties of the Earth. For example, seismic anisotropy is used to determine the structure of the Earth's crust and the presence of minerals in the subsurface;
• Optics and crystallography : Optical anisotropy is essential in the study of crystals and crystalline materials. It allows the analysis of X-ray diffraction and the determination of the crystalline structure of materials, as well as the production of optical materials with specific properties.