The Magnetic Dipole Moment of the Electron

This text discusses the origin of the magnetic dipole moment of the electron. It explains that the electron’s spin gives rise to a magnetic dipole moment, and that the value of this moment can be calculated using quantum field theory.

Here are some questions and answers about the text:

• What is the force between two magnetic dipoles?
• Where do the microscopic dipole moments m come from?
• What is the g-factor, and why is it important?

Here are the answers to the questions:

• The force between two magnetic dipoles is attractive if the dipoles point in the same direction, and repulsive if they point in opposite directions.
• The microscopic dipole moments m come from the spin of the electron.
• The g-factor is a dimensionless number that describes the relationship between the magnetic dipole moment of the electron and its spin. It is important because it can be used to calculate the magnetic moment of the electron, and its value has been experimentally verified to a high degree of precision.