8.

3 Orbital Magnetic Moment of an Atom

We consider an electron mass m, charge e revolving round the nucleus of an atom i a

circular orbit of radius [Fig. 8.2

r ry-plane with a velocity of magnitude
in the v

The charge - e circulating the loop is equivalent to a circuit,

ev
I=- (8.2)
27TT
where T is the period of revolution.
A current loop is quivalent to a magnetic shell of magnetic
dipole moment f1.
ev 2 = evr
O X
L= Current X area = IA =

2
2TT
f o r circular orbit, area A = Tr°j Z
Fig. 8.2: Electron revolving round a
or, = - mUr = - L. nucleus in an atom
2m 2m

Since, magnetic moment l and angular momentum L are both vectors. The implication
are oppositely directed.
of the negative sign is that 7 and L
The ratio of the orbital magnetic moment to the angular momentum of the electron is
Orbital magnetic moment
Orbital angular momentum 2m (8.3)
agnetic moment of the atom is generally written as
e
IE9L, (8.4)
were gi
wher = 1 and is called the orbital g-factor of the electron.

Again, quantum meçhanically.

Z= VI +1)h,
ere&is the orbital aneular monentum quantum nuinber ot the atom having valuesl =
0, 1,
2
 eh
917Vi(l +1)h = 2m Vl+1). (8.4)
where g = 1 and is called the orbital
g-factor.
h
Forl=0, 4 =
0; for =
1, 4u =
V22m for = 3. 41 =

V6m
Z-component of Orbital Magnetic Moment
The 2-component of orbital angular momentum quantum iumber is
Lz = mh,

where m is the orbital magnetic quantum number. For a given value of l , mi = l, (l - 1), ..

0, 1,., (-1+1), -1, i.e., (21 +1) values of m.

The Z-component of orbital magnetic moment
e eh
(4)z= 2m Lz =- 2m (8.5)
For m 1, (u)z = - h .
2m
Bohr magneton: A Bohr magneton is the unit of magnetic moment and has the value.
eh
B 2m
(8.6)
Substituting, e = 1.6 x 10-19 C, m =
=9.1 x 10-3 kg and h = - 1.055 x 10-34 J-s we
we
have
1.6 x 10-19x 1.055 x 10-34
PB= =
9.27 x 104* J/tesla.
2x9.1 x 10-31 (8.7)
 The physical significance of the Bohr magneton 2m is that it is the smallest unit
of magnetic monent of the atom and is quantised like magnetic moment of the moment
charge, mass, etc.

Quantisation of Magnetic Moment

The Z-component of orbital magnetic
moment
eh
(Pu)z = 2m = = -HBm,
(8.8)
where i s the smallest unit of magnetic moment known
the Bohr magneton and mi is
as
an
integral number given by mj l, (l -1)...0, 1,..., (-1+1), -t.
=

Thus magnetic moment is always an

integral multiple of the smallest unit Bohr magneto.
This shows the quantisation of magnetic
moment.
Magnetic Dipole in a Magnetic Field
Ifmagnetic dipole of moment ri be placed in a magnetic field B, then
a

experience a potential energy V, the energy of interaction between the classically it will
the magnetic field is given by magnetic moment and

EB- B. (8.9)
If Bis in the 2-direction, then
EB-()z B =#sBm. (8.10)
Since, m is quantised, the potential energy V is also quantised. So, in
the atomic state of a given
a
magnetic field
splits into (2l + 1) different states according to the
magnetic quantum number m.