What Happens to Orbital and Spin Momentum of Free Electrons in Iron?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the behavior of valence electrons in iron and their contribution to magnetism. It clarifies that while these electrons are considered "free," they are still influenced by the positive ions and other free electrons in the metal, akin to gas molecules in a box. This leads to questions about the nature of their orbital and spin momentum, particularly how iron maintains its magnetic properties despite the lack of unified momentum among roaming electrons. The conversation highlights the complexity of electron interactions in metals and the implications for understanding magnetism. Ultimately, the interplay between free electrons and their magnetic moments is crucial for explaining iron's magnetic behavior.
cronnin
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Theory explains magnetism in iron as a combined effect of magnetic moments of electrons. Now, what is confusing me is that valence electrons in iron are supposed to be free. The valence band and conduction band overlap. So, what kind of orbital and spin-ular momentum do these free electrons actually have? I may also ask, what does it mean to be free? When the current flows through the iron plate, do these electrons leave their atoms and wander around, settling with another nucleus?
 
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cronnin said:
settling with another nucleus
They are more free than that. They have no 'parent' atom at all. they are just held inside the whole mass of the metal and located (roughly) by the attraction of the +ions and the repulsion of the other free -electrons. It's analogous to the molecules of a gas in a box.
 
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So what happens with orbital and spin magnetic moment? How does iron stay magnetic if all valence electrons roam free without unified momentum?
 
Thread 'Motional EMF in Faraday disc, co-rotating magnet axial mean flux'

Thread 'Motional EMF in Faraday disc, co-rotating magnet axial mean flux'

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