Stern-Gerlach Experiment
The Stern-Gerlach experiment in 1920 demonstrated the quantization of angular momentum, revealing electrons' intrinsic spin with two orientations, highlighting fundamental quantum properties in atomic systems.
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Stern-Gerlach experiment, conducted by Otto Stern and Walter Gerlach in 1920, revealed that electrons possess individual, continuous spin while orbiting an atom. The experiment involved vaporizing silver atoms and directing them through an inhomogeneous magnetic field, resulting in the splitting of the beam into two distinct paths. This outcome demonstrated that angular momentum at the atomic level is quantized, with only two possible orientations: up and down. The significance of the Stern-Gerlach experiment lies in its illustration of quantum properties in atomic-scale systems. Typically, the experiment is performed with electrically neutral particles, such as silver atoms, to minimize the deflection of charged particles in a magnetic field, allowing spin-dependent effects to be more pronounced. When treated as classical spinning magnetic dipoles, these particles exhibit precession in a magnetic field due to the torque exerted on them. In a homogeneous magnetic field, the forces acting on opposite ends of the dipole cancel each other, maintaining a straight trajectory.
- The Stern-Gerlach experiment demonstrated the quantization of angular momentum in atomic systems.
- It revealed that electrons have intrinsic spin, leading to two distinct orientations.
- The experiment is typically conducted with neutral particles to highlight spin effects.
- It illustrates fundamental quantum properties at the atomic scale.
- The findings have significant implications for the understanding of quantum mechanics.
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5 commentsI would recommend another source with some nice diagrams though, like hyperphysics, or the opening chapter of Modern Quantum Mechanics by Sakurai (although it's a graduate level book, the opening chapter is simple enough).
The Stern-Gerlach Experiment (ESI College Physics Film Program 1967)
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/physics-experiment/app5.h...
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