Magnetic Susceptibility of Sodium Metal

The total susceptibility of sodium metal has been measured from room temperature down to 55°K using the Gouy technique. The mass susceptibility at room temperature was found to be +(0.70±0.03)×${10}^{-6\mathrm{}}$ cgs units. This result is analyzed by using an estimate of the ion core susceptibility and calculations of the conduction-electron spin contribution. The analysis leads to a conduction-electron orbital diamagnetism which is much smaller than the value obtained from the Landau-Peierls formula. No explanation is given of this disparity.