Fluctuating Magnetic Moments in Liquid Metals

by Mark Patty, Keary Schoen, & Wouter Montfrooij arXiv.org e-Print archive, 23 Jun 2005 We re-analyze literature data on neutron scattering by liquid metals to show that non-magnetic liquid metals possess a magnetic moment that fluctuates on a picosecond time scale. This time scale follows the motion of the cage-diffusion process in which an ion rattles around in the cage formed by its neighbors. We find that these fluctuating magnetic moments are present in liquid Hg, Al, Ga and Pb, and possibly also in the alkali metals. Read more