[Paper Review] Magnetic dipole moment of the electron

Franz E. Schunck|ArXiv.org|Sep 16, 2008

Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics3 citations

TL;DR

This paper proposes a classical model in which the electron's magnetic dipole moment arises from a central +1e charge surrounded by a -2e charge in circular motion, reproducing the observed g-factor of 2. The model explains the electron's spin as intrinsic angular momentum from this internal charge configuration, linking the gyromagnetic ratio directly to the charge magnitude and providing a physical interpretation for the anomalous magnetic moment without quantum field theory.

ABSTRACT

We present a model which determines the correct value of the magnetic dipole moment of the electron. By this, we find a physical meaning for the electron spin.

Motivation & Objective

• To provide a physical explanation for the electron's magnetic dipole moment and its g-factor of 2, which remains unexplained in purely classical terms.
• To assign a concrete physical meaning to electron spin by modeling it as orbital motion of a -2e charge around a +1e core.
• To resolve the discrepancy between the classical gyromagnetic ratio and the observed value by reinterpreting the charge distribution and motion inside the electron.
• To explore whether the electron's internal structure could consist of non-interacting charged constituents that collectively behave as a neutral, stable particle.

Proposed method

• Assumes the electron contains a central +1e charge and a circulating -2e charge, forming a dipole system with net charge -1e.
• Uses semi-classical electrodynamics to compute the magnetic moment as μ = evr, equating it to the Bohr magneton μB = eħ/(2me).
• Derives the gyromagnetic ratio γs = e/me from the model, matching the observed value for the electron's spin magnetic moment.
• Shows that the g-factor g_s = 2 corresponds physically to the absolute value of the moving charge (-2e), giving it a physical interpretation.
• Introduces a constraint that the internal charges do not interact electromagnetically via photons, to avoid fine-structure and excited states.
• Proposes a new type of particle that carries electric charge but does not couple to photons, suggesting it is neither bosonic nor fermionic.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 How can the electron’s magnetic dipole moment with g-factor g_s = 2 be explained by a classical internal structure?
• RQ2 What physical configuration of internal charges and motion produces the correct gyromagnetic ratio γs = e/me?
• RQ3 Can the electron’s spin be interpreted as orbital angular momentum of a charged ring around a central charge?
• RQ4 Why does the electron not exhibit excited states if it contains internal charged constituents?
• RQ5 What kind of particle properties must the internal constituents have to avoid electromagnetic interaction while preserving the electron’s observed behavior?

Key findings

• The model reproduces the electron’s magnetic moment exactly as μ_B = eħ/(2m_e) through the relation μ = evr = eħ/(2m_e).
• The gyromagnetic ratio for spin is derived as γ_s = e/m_e, which matches the observed value and explains the g-factor of 2 as the absolute value of the moving charge (-2e).
• The electron’s spin is physically interpreted as the orbital angular momentum of a -2e charge circling a +1e core, with spin-up/down corresponding to clockwise/anticlockwise motion.
• The internal charges are postulated to not interact electromagnetically via photons, preventing fine-structure and excited states, implying a new kind of non-photonic interaction.
• The model suggests the internal constituents are neither bosons nor fermions, but a new type of charged particle that does not couple to photons.
• The electron’s mass is primarily concentrated in the central +1e charge, with the circulating -2e charge contributing a small fraction, consistent with mass ratios in systems like the hydrogen atom.