Stern-Gerlach dynamics with quantum propagators

Transverse Quantum Stern–Gerlach Magnets for Electrons

In the Stern–Gerlach experiment, silver atoms were separated according to their spin state (Gerlach and Stern 1922 Z. Phys. 9 353–355). This experiment demonstrates the quantization of spin and relies on the classical description of motion. However, so far, no design has led to a functional Stern–Gerlach magnet for free electrons. Bohr and Pauli showed in the 1930 Solvay conference that Stern–G...

Quantum-mechanical analysis of a longitudinal Stern-Gerlach effect.

We present the results of a rigorous quantum-mechanical calculation of the propagation of electrons through an inhomogeneous magnetic field with axial symmetry. A complete spin polarization of the beam is demonstrated assuming that a Landau eigenstate can be inserted into the field. This is in contrast with the semiclassical situation, where the spin splitting is blurred.

Electrons, Stern–Gerlach Magnets, and Quantum Mechanical Propagation

A Quantum Description of the Stern-Gerlach Experiment

A detailed analysis of the classic Stern–Gerlach experiment is presented. An analytical simple solution is presented for the quantum description of the translational and spin dynamics of a silver atom in a magnetic field with a gradient along a single z-direction. This description is then used to obtain an approximate quantum description of the more realistic case with a magnetic field gradient...

Generalized Stern-Gerlach effect for chiral molecules.

The Stern-Gerlach effect is well known as spin-dependent splitting of a beam of atoms with magnetic moments by a magnetic-field gradient. Here, we show that an induced gauge potential may lead to a similar effect for chiral molecules. In the presence of three inhomogeneous light fields, the center of mass of a three-level chiral molecule is subject to an optically induced gauge potential, and t...