Lecture 17: Magnetization of Paramagnets

Paramagnets have magnetic moments whose directions fluctuate wildly with temperature. But, if you apply an external magnetic field, you can align the moments, and the paramagnet develops a net magnetization. Turn the external field off, and the paramagnet loses its magnetization. We calculate the Curie susceptibility -- how easy it is to magnetize a paramagnet by applying a net magnetic field.

Lecture Audio