What type of magnetic susceptibility is indicated by a value greater than 0 and less than 1?

A magnetic susceptibility value greater than 0 and less than 1 indicates paramagnetism. In the context of magnetic materials, susceptibility refers to the degree to which a material can be magnetized in an external magnetic field. Paramagnetic materials have a weak and positive susceptibility; they are attracted to magnetic fields and exhibit this behavior due to unpaired electrons. These materials have a net magnetic moment that aligns with an external magnetic field, although this alignment is relatively weak and temporary.

In contrast, diamagnetic materials, which have a negative susceptibility value, are repelled by magnetic fields due to their paired electrons. Ferromagnetic materials exhibit high susceptibility values and maintain a strong magnetization even after the external field is removed. Superparamagnetic materials, while also exhibiting magnetic properties, behave like paramagnetic materials but can undergo larger fluctuations in magnetization at the nanoscale, particularly in small particles.

Understanding the distinction between these types of magnetic susceptibility is essential in various applications, including MRI safety, where the interaction of magnetic fields with different materials can impact both image quality and patient safety.