IsingCocoa is a software that models the Ising model of a ferromagnet. It simulates molecular interactions to analyze the behavior of the magnet.
The Ising model simulates a ferromagnet consisting of a 2-dimensional array of spins. Each spin can be in either an "up" or "down" state and is free to flip between the two. It is energetically favorable for the spins to be aligned, meaning that each spin prefers to point in the same direction as its neighbors. At high temperatures, the spins tend to a random configuration with little correlation between neighboring spins. However, with decreasing temperatures, the spins tend to align themselves with their neighbors, resulting in domains where all the spins are either "up" or "down." The critical temperature at which a "phase transition" occurs between the ordered and disordered states is referred to as the Curie point for magnetic materials.
In the simulation, the software starts with a random configuration of spins and lets them evolve according to their own dynamics. Each spin is represented by a pixel on the screen, with "up" spins shown as white and "down" spins shown as black. To avoid problems with boundary conditions, the software considers the left edge to be joined onto the right edge, and the top edge to be joined onto the bottom edge. The Ising window has sliders that allow users to vary the temperature and ambient magnetic field while the simulation is in progress. The temperature is shown in units of the spin-spin interaction energy.
Statistics on the update rates for the calculation ("model") and display ("view") can be accessed through a drawer that can be opened via the View menu. An auxiliary view shows the "Wilson block spins" configuration. However, the software has limitations as the save function is disabled.
Overall, IsingCocoa provides an easy-to-use interface for exploring the Ising model of magnetically interacting spins on a 2-dimensional lattice. The real-time calculations and visual displays allow for interactive exploration of scientific models.
Version 1.0: N/A