Atomic Spin

Spin

"Spin", in particle physics and quantum mechanics, is a fundamental property of elementary particles, composite particles, atoms, and molecules. Spin is a type of angular momentum. In atoms and molecules the spin number is the sum of the unpaired electrons. Spin quantum numbers can take on half-integer values. The direction of a spin can be changed, but the speed of the spin for an elementary particle is constant. The spin of a charged particle is associated with the magnetic dipole moment with a g-factor other than 1. The spin creates a very small magnetic field. These atomic spins are fundamental to MRI.


Atom showing spin vector

Further Reading

• http://www.imaios.com/en/e-Courses/e-MRI/NMR/nuclear-spin
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spin_(physics)
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_dipole_moment