QUANTUM ORIGINS
Where magnetism begins
Spin, orbital motion, electronic structure, density of states, exchange and the Zeeman effect establish why atoms and solids carry magnetic moments.
ISDN 5600 · GRADUATE · SPRING 2026
Magnetism: From Quantum Mechanics to Medical Robots
A unified journey from the quantum origin of magnetic moments to the machines, imaging systems and medical robots they make possible.
THE CONNECTING QUESTION
How does a quantum property become a force that can move a machine or guide a medical robot?
Magnetism is often taught as separate formulas for materials, fields and devices. This course follows one continuous physical story. It begins with electron spin and exchange, asks how many moments organize inside real materials, develops models for fields and forces, and then uses those ideas to understand motors, data storage, MRI and magnetic robotic systems.
MATERIALS
How moments organize
Diamagnetism, paramagnetism, ferromagnetism, antiferromagnetism, superexchange and hysteresis connect microscopic interactions to measurable behaviour.
DEVICES
How fields do work
Lorentz force, induction, magnetic circuits, motors, actuators, magnetic coupling and data storage turn physical principles into engineered systems.
MEDICINE & ROBOTICS
How magnetism acts at a distance
MRI, diagnostics, microrobots, magnetic catheters and minimally invasive tools show why controllable remote force is valuable inside the body.
WHAT STUDENTS LEARN
Move between physical explanation and engineering judgement.
Explain the origin
Relate atomic and quantum descriptions to the behaviour of iron, oxides and other magnetic materials.
Calculate fields and forces
Use simplified models to estimate magnetic fields, forces, torques and material response.
Read magnetic evidence
Interpret hysteresis curves and common characterization data to identify key values and classify materials.
Model a device
Estimate the performance of electromagnets, motors and coupled magnetic systems and justify design choices.
Evaluate emerging technology
Examine how magnetic physics enables imaging, diagnosis, microrobotics and minimally invasive intervention.
Communicate across scales
Build a coherent technical argument from literature, physical models and system-level consequences.
THIRTEEN-WEEK ARC
From moments and materials to machines and medicine.
- WEEK 1Magnetic foundations
Fields, moments, dipoles and the physical questions that connect the course.
- WEEKS 2–3Quantum origins
Spin, orbitals, Schrödinger equation, density of states and the Zeeman effect.
- WEEKS 4–6Materials and measurement
Dia-, para-, ferro- and antiferromagnetism, superexchange, hysteresis and characterization.
- WEEKS 7–9Fields, motors and information
Lorentz force, induction, magnetic circuits, actuators, coupling, wireless power and data storage.
- WEEKS 10–12Medicine and robotic systems
Imaging, diagnostics, microrobots, magnetic catheters and minimally invasive surgery.
- WEEK 13Research synthesis
Group video presentations connect an emerging magnetic topic to its physical mechanism and engineering significance.
GROUP RESEARCH PROJECT
Explain a magnetic technology from first principles.
Teams select a current research topic, trace the mechanism from material or field physics to system behaviour, compare competing approaches and communicate the result as a concise technical video. The project tests whether students can connect equations and measurements to an argument about why a technology works and where its limits lie.