Dimagnetic

Dimagnetic refers to a property of materials that exhibit a weak repulsion from an external magnetic field. When placed in a magnetic field, the electrons in a dimagnetic material respond in such a way that they create an induced magnetic field opposing the applied field. This opposition causes the material to be pushed away from the source of the magnetic field. The effect is very small, and dimagnetism is present in all materials, although it can be masked by stronger magnetic effects like paramagnetism or ferromagnetism.

The origin of dimagnetism lies in the orbital motion of electrons within atoms. According to Lenz's law, any change in the magnetic flux through a circuit (or in this case, an electron's orbit) induces a current that opposes the change. In a dimagnetic material, the external magnetic field alters the orbital motion of electrons, inducing tiny circulating currents that generate a magnetic dipole moment antiparallel to the applied field. This induced moment is independent of temperature.

Common examples of dimagnetic materials include water, copper, bismuth, and most organic compounds. While the dimagnetic effect is weak, it is a fundamental property of matter. In experiments requiring precise magnetic field control, understanding and accounting for dimagnetism is important. For instance, in levitation experiments, extremely strong magnetic fields are needed to overcome the weak repulsive force of dimagnetic materials. The susceptibility of dimagnetic materials is always negative, indicating this repulsive behavior.