How does an electron's spin create magnetism?

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    Magnetism Spin
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the relationship between an electron's spin and the creation of magnetism, exploring both general principles of magnetism and specific behaviors in materials like iron. The scope includes conceptual understanding and technical explanations related to quantum mechanics and magnetic properties of materials.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asks how an electron's spin creates magnetism, indicating a fundamental inquiry into the topic.
  • Another participant seeks a general explanation of what produces magnetism, suggesting a broader context for the discussion.
  • A different participant proposes that magnetism arises from many electrons aligning their spins in the same direction, affecting the surrounding space and leading to a collective magnetic effect.
  • Another participant explains that in iron atoms, the two outer electrons tend to align their spins, contributing to a magnetic moment that results from quantum effects, specifically referencing the Dirac equation and cooperative quantum effects in ferromagnetism.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion includes multiple viewpoints on the mechanisms of magnetism, with no consensus reached on a singular explanation or model. Participants express varying levels of understanding and propose different aspects of electron behavior related to magnetism.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on specific quantum mechanical principles and may require further elaboration on the underlying assumptions, such as the nature of electron alignment and the role of quantum effects in magnetism.

Firestrider
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simple question: how does an electron's spin create magnetism?
 
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In general, can you say what produces magnetism?
 
My knowledge about it are restricted but I used to believe that Magnetism was created by many electrons that all have the same direction and sens, the spin would be the same. All those electron moving toward the same way would have effect on the space arround so the objects tend to have the same direction of electron because of the space deformation

we need a mentor here
 
The two outer electrons in the iron atom tend to line up with their spins aligned. Electrons have a magnetic moment (due to a quantum effect, the Dirac equation) that is aligned with their spin. In ferromagnetism, a cooperative quantum effect lines up all the magnetic moments in large chunks of iron producing large magnetic fields.
 

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