Stern Gerlach Experiment-6

STERN GERLACH EXPERIMENT:
The experiment gives the insight for the existence of space quantization and magnetic moments of
atoms. It is based on the behavior of an atomic magnet (magnetic dipole) in a non-uniform magnetic
field. If an atomic magnet passes normally through a non-uniform magnetic field, it will be deviated
from its rectilinear path.
Silver is boiled in an Oven. Silver atoms have 47 electrons, and the shell structure is 2.8.18.18.1
1s2 2s2p6 3s2p6d10 4s2p6d10 5s1.
The slits S1 andS2 makes stream of silver atoms from the oven into a sharp linear beam.
The non homogeneous magnetic field is produced by the pole-pieces NS through which the atomic
magnet passes.
The magnetic field is at right to the direction of movement of the atoms.
The beam produces a narrow continuous line on the plate with no field.
The stream of silver atoms splits in to two beams in the presence of magnetic field.
According to vector atom model the atoms with electron spin parallel to the field will experience a
force in one direction and those with perpendicular direction experience force in opposite direction.
CD is a tiny bar magnet of pole strength p
l is the length of the bar magnet

magnetic moment µ = Pl
dB
Non uniform magnetic field with field gradient is applied along x-axis
dz
B is field at point C
dB
B+ l cos θ is the field at D
dz
dB
Variation of magnetic field is in the Z direction with the field gradient
dz
The field strength at the pole C is B and at the other pole D is
dB
B+ l cos θ
dz
dB
Forces at the two poles are PB and P(B+ l cos θ )
dz
The translatory force experienced by the atomic magnet ,
dB
Fz = Pl cos θ
dz
magnetic moment (Pl ) = magnetic moment due to spin= µs
dB dB dB
Fz= µs cos θ = µsz= ∓ µB
dz dz dz
To find the drift (s) due to magnetic field:
Fz
The atomic magnet experiences an acceleration due to the translatory force which is a =
m
Fz 2
The displacement of the atom along the field gradient on emerging out of the field s= ½ ( )t
m
1
using s=ut+ at2 the initial velocity u of the atoms in the z-direction is zero.
2
L
The time taken by the atomic magnet to travel through the field t= ( L the length of the field and
V
V the velocity of the atomic magnet)
Fz L
s= ½ ( )( )2
m V
dB µ B L
s=∓½ ( ) ( )2
dz m V
Relation between drift in the magnetic field (s) and shift observed on the plate(d):
The displacement of the atom along the field gradient on emerging out of the magnetic field ¿ s
distance of the photographic plate ¿the magnetic field=D

length of magnetic field =L
From similar triangles
S L
=
d D
L
S= d
D
The shift on the photographic plate = d = s x
distance of the plate ¿ the magnetic field ¿ D
length of the pole pieces = s x L
The separation between the beams on the photographic plate = d+d = 2d.
dB µ B L
s=∓½ ( ) ( )2
dz m V
The Stern-Gerlach experiment is a foundational experiment in quantum mechanics designed to
demonstrate the quantization of angular momentum, specifically, the quantization of the spin of
particles.
Here's why it's essential to use a beam of neutral atoms rather than ions in the Stern-Gerlach
experiment:
1. Magnetic Field Interaction: The Stern-Gerlach apparatus uses a non-uniform magnetic field
to split a beam of particles based on their magnetic moments. Neutral atoms, like silver
atoms used in the original experiment, have magnetic moments due to the spin of their
electrons, primarily the unpaired electron in the outer shell. This magnetic moment interacts
with the gradient of the magnetic field, causing the atoms to be deflected in a direction that
depends on the orientation of their spin.
2. Electromagnetic Forces on Charged Particles: If the particles were ions (charged particles),
they would experience a much stronger force due to their charge interacting with the
magnetic and electric fields. The Lorentz force acting on charged particles in a magnetic field
is proportional to the charge and the velocity of the particles. This force would overshadow
the much weaker interaction of the magnetic moment with the field gradient, making it
impossible to observe the subtle effects of spin quantization.
3. Beam Deviation: Ions would also be deflected by any electric fields present in the apparatus,
and their trajectories would depend on their charge-to-mass ratio, not just on their spin
state. This would make it difficult, if not impossible, to separate the effects of spin from the
effects of the particles' charges.
4. Simplified Analysis: Using neutral atoms simplifies the analysis of the experiment because it
allows the experimenters to focus solely on the magnetic moment and its interaction with
the magnetic field gradient. The resulting beam splitting can then be directly attributed to
the quantum mechanical property of spin without the confounding effects of electric or
strong magnetic forces on charged particles.
In summary, using a beam of neutral atoms ensures that the only significant force acting on the
particles in the Stern-Gerlach experiment is due to their magnetic moments interacting with the
magnetic field gradient, allowing for a clear demonstration of the quantization of spin.

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STERN GERLACH EXPERIMENT:

1s2 2s2p6 3s2p6d10 4s2p6d10 5s1.

The magnetic field is at right to the direction of movement of the atoms.

CD is a tiny bar magnet of pole strength p

l is the length of the bar magnet

distance of the photographic plate ¿the magnetic field=D

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