Classical Electron Magnetic Moment

In summary, the classical calculation for the magnetic moment of an electron with uniform charge and mass distributions spinning about a fixed axis is μs = -(e/2m)S. To find the moment for an orbiting electron, one can use the same form but with L instead of S. To calculate the moment for a current loop, one can use μ = iA, where i is the current and A is the area of the loop. However, there may be some difficulties when trying to integrate over the entire sphere, as well as determining the power of r in the denominator. Further help may be needed to fully understand the calculation.
  • #1
greeziak
2
0
I'm trying to show that for an electron of uniform charge and mass distributions spinning about a fixed axis that the classical calculation for the magnetic moment is

μs = -(e/2m)S where S is the spin angular momentum.

Now I know that the moment for any given current loop is μ = iA. So should I just be assuming all the charge is at the surface and integrate over the entire sphere? The moment for an orbiting electron is of the same form but with L instead of S, so I think this might be the way to start, but I'm not sure. Thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
As of right now I am writing q = ρ2πr as the infinitesimal amount of charge in the current loop with the current being q/T with T, the period, T = 2πr/v. The area in these loops then should be πr2, with the surface integral rdr tacked on from 0 to r. This doesn't seem to work.

Also writing the current as q = ρ2πdr is providing me nothing. In order to get ρ back into -e I'm using ρ * 4pi*r2, which means I need a pi to survive at the end. One last note, before integration the power of r has to be either 1 or 3 to avoid an odd number in the denominator? Any help at this point would be great, thanks.
 

FAQ: Classical Electron Magnetic Moment

What is the Classical Electron Magnetic Moment?

The Classical Electron Magnetic Moment is a physical quantity that describes the strength of the magnetic field generated by an electron as it moves through space. It is a fundamental property of the electron and is represented by the Greek letter μ.

How is the Classical Electron Magnetic Moment calculated?

The Classical Electron Magnetic Moment is calculated using the equation μ = qL/2m, where q is the charge of the electron, L is the orbital angular momentum, and m is the mass of the electron.

3. What is the significance of the Classical Electron Magnetic Moment?

The Classical Electron Magnetic Moment is significant because it provides insight into the behavior of electrons in different materials and environments. It is crucial in understanding the properties of magnets, as well as in the fields of quantum mechanics and particle physics.

4. How does the Classical Electron Magnetic Moment differ from the Quantum Mechanical Electron Magnetic Moment?

The Classical Electron Magnetic Moment is based on classical physics principles, while the Quantum Mechanical Electron Magnetic Moment takes into account the effects of quantum mechanics on the behavior of electrons. The two values may differ slightly, but they are closely related.

5. Can the Classical Electron Magnetic Moment change?

The Classical Electron Magnetic Moment is considered a constant value and does not change for a single electron. However, it can change for different particles or in different environments, such as within a magnetic field or in a specific material.

Similar threads

Back
Top