The Lande g-factor (\(g_s\)) is an important quantity in quantum mechanics that describes the magnetic moment of an electron due to its spin. The value of \(g_s\) is approximately 2 for a free electron.
The magnetic moment (\(\mu\)) of a particle with spin is related to its spin angular momentum (\(S\)) by the equation:
\[ \mu = g \frac{e}{2m} S \]
Where:
The electron is a fundamental particle with a spin of \(\frac{1}{2}\). This intrinsic property contributes to the overall magnetic moment of the electron.
The Dirac equation, which describes relativistic electrons, predicts that the g-factor for a free electron is exactly 2. This result stems from the combination of the electron's spin and its relativistic properties.
While the theoretical value of \(g_s\) is 2, precise measurements show that the actual g-factor of the electron is slightly greater than 2 due to quantum electrodynamic (QED) effects. This is expressed as:
\[ g_s = 2 + \Delta g \]
Where \(\Delta g\) accounts for these higher-order corrections.
The Lande factor \(g_s = 2\) arises from the intrinsic properties of the electron and its relativistic behavior. The slight deviation observed in experiments is a result of QED effects, leading to the concept of the anomalous magnetic moment.