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Larmor precession
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Figure 1: Precession of a magnetic dipole moment μ in the presence of a constant field H and a rotating field H′ (see text)
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Larmor precession

physics
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Figure 1: Precession of a magnetic dipole moment μ in the presence of a constant field H and a rotating field H′ (see text)
Figure 1: Precession of a magnetic dipole moment μ in the presence of a constant field H and a rotating field H′ (see text)

Larmor precession refers to the precession of a particle with a magnetic moment, such as an atom spinning in a magnetic field. This phenomenon is named after Sir Joseph Larmor, an Irish physicist who made significant contributions to understanding the effects of magnetic fields on electrons and spectrum lines.12

The frequency of this precession is known as the Larmor frequency. Larmor's theorem states that the only observable effect of a magnetic field on atomic electrons is this precession. This concept is fundamental in physics and is related to phenomena like nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), where atomic nuclei with magnetic moments precess in a magnetic field, leading to selective absorption of radio waves. Precession itself is a type of motion where the axis of a spinning body rotates around another line, similar to how a spinning top wobbles.3456

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6 Britannica Sources
  1. Larmor precession
  2. Larmor frequency
  3. Larmor's theorem
  4. Sir Joseph Larmor
  5. precession
  6. nuclear magnetic resonance

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