Measurement of thegValue of Conduction Electrons in Lithium Metal

Abstract

The ratio $\frac{g_{\mathrm{Li}}}{g_p}$ of the $g$ value of conduction electrons in lithium metal to the $g$ value of protons in distilled water has been measured and found to be 658.2075±0.0005. The shift of the conduction-electron $g$ value relative to that of the free electron is $\delta g=(-6.1\mathrm{}\pm 0.2)\times {10}^{-5\mathrm{}}$, a result in substantial disagreement with a previous measurement. Interpretation of the experimental results requires consideration of demagnetizing fields in the metal samples. For the flat-plate specimens on which the measurements were made, the demagnetizing corrections are of the same order of magnitude as the $g$ shift. Detailed calculations are presented for the two limiting cases of samples much thinner and much thicker than the skin depth. For thick samples, the diffusion of the conduction electrons must be taken into account. The demagnetizing corrections, and as a consequence the resonance conditions, for the two limiting cases are found to be different.