Equilibrium configurations and phase transitions in dipole lattices

Two-dimensional square and hexagonal lattices of magnetic dipoles with the number of rows 1–4 have been studied. Based on the numerical analysis, equilibrium stable domain configurations, including the minimum number of lattice dipoles, have been revealed; the conditions for the creation and destruction of domains have been determined; and their associated changes in the magnetic moment of the lattice and in the energy of the dipole interaction have been found. The conditions for the occurrence of phase transitions that change the configuration of the lattices have been investigated and the conditions for unidirectional propagation of the front of the phase transition have been established. A comparative analysis of different square and hexagonal lattices has been performed in terms of the specific features of the formed domains and the observed orientation phase transitions.