Past exam of the condensed matter physics course of the University of Oxford / 2016 / 3 / b / i / Solution

For $B=0.05$ T, use the two spin-only moment states. Their probabilities and normalized magnetization areAt 300 K, $x=1.11952\times 10^{-4}$; at 2 K, $x=0.0167928$. ThereforeThe phrase “fraction aligned” is ambiguous if it is used to mean net alignment. Half the moments are already in the parallel state at zero field, but the net magnetization is then zero because the antiparallel half cancels them. The table reports both the literal parallel-state population and the imbalance that produces magnetization. At this weak field even the 2 K sample is far from saturation, so the Curie approximation is accurate within this independent-spin model.