Magnetization inside a diamagnetic material antiparallel to ##B_{ext}##

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on the behavior of diamagnetic materials in the presence of an external magnetic field. It establishes that diamagnetic materials exhibit negative susceptibility, resulting in the alignment of electron currents in opposition to the external magnetic field, as explained by Lenz's law. The induced magnetic field from these current loops repels the external field, leading to phenomena such as levitation. The conversation clarifies the relationship between electron motion and magnetic dipole moments in diamagnetic substances.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Lenz's law in electromagnetic induction
  • Familiarity with magnetic susceptibility and its implications
  • Knowledge of electron behavior in atomic orbits
  • Basic principles of magnetism and magnetic fields
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  • Study the principles of diamagnetism and its applications in materials science
  • Explore the concept of magnetic dipole moments in detail
  • Learn about the effects of external magnetic fields on electron motion
  • Investigate practical applications of Lenz's law in technology
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Physicists, materials scientists, and students studying electromagnetism who seek to deepen their understanding of diamagnetic materials and their interactions with magnetic fields.

Wrynn
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TL;DR
Why is the magnetization inside a diamagnetic material antiparallel to the external field
Let's say I have a constant magnetic field and I dive into it a diamagnetic material. Griffiths says that in the presence of a magnetic field, matter becomes magnetized and it will be found to contain many tiny dipoles with a net alignment along some direction.

However, what's exactly the link between the alignment of those dipole and the way that the external magnetic field induces a current to the atoms which produces a magnetic field in the opposite direction (Lenz's law).

How exactly the magnetic field aligns those dipoles and what exactly are the loops of those dipoles, are they the "path" of electrons?

I think those 2 questions is what I'm missing to fully understand the link between the 2 statements if there is a link.

Thank you
 
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Hi,
Diamagnetic materials have negative susceptibility and all the electrons in those materials are usually paired.
As you said, the opposite alignment is because of Lenz law of electromagnetic induction. The motion of electrons in orbit forms a current loop, and this loop will be oppositely aligned because of the external magnetic field. Thus this induced magnetic field (due to electron loops/motion) repels external magnetic field-Levitation. Moreover, external magnetic field alters the velocity of electrons, thereby changing the magnetic dipole moment.
 

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