Otto Stern—An Involuntary Convert to Quantum Theory
Břetislav Friedrich
ABSTRACT The bulk of experiments and observations that lined the path to quantum mechanics amounted to a backlog of data in need of explanation. A notable exception was the Stern–Gerlach experiment (SGE) designed to test the predictions of the old quantum theory as embodied by the 1913–1916 Bohr–Sommerfeld–Debye atom model. After its initial triumphs, such as the explanation of the astrophysically observed spectrum of , this model was frowned upon in some quarters, mainly because of its ad hoc nature. Otto Stern (1888–1969)—and his close colleague and friend, Max von Laue (1879–1960)—even took a vow: “If this nonsense of Bohr should, in the end, prove to be right, we will quit physics.” Stern would go further yet and, in 1920, devise an experiment—the SGE—to disprove Bohr's model. However, contrary to Stern's expectations, the SGE ruled unequivocally in favor of the model and its amendments. Wolfgang Pauli (1900–1958) quipped: “That should convert even the non‐believer Stern.” And it did: Confronted with the outcome of the SGE, Stern noted in 1961: “I still have objections to the idea of beauty of quantum mechanics. But she is correct.” Ironically, the SGE would epitomize quantum mechanics as we know it: whether quantum measurement, state preparation, coherence, or entanglement—in addition to the quantization of angular momentum and its spatial projections—the SGE has it all. It now seems that the SGE may even impact future studies of the relationship of quantum theory to other pillars of physics, most notably, general relativity. The descendants of the SGE include transformative techniques for the study of the quantum properties of nuclear, atomic, molecular, and condensed‐matter systems, with magnetic resonance imaging being among the most widely used. Key Points Edward Pickering; Williamina Fleming; Pickering series; Bohr‐Sommerfeld‐Debye model of the atom; Otto Stern; Stern‐Gerlach experiment; Bohr magneton; Old Quantum Theory; Spin; nuclear magneton; magnetic dipole moment of the proton; matter‐wave duality; Quantum Mechanics.
Natural Sciences•Apr 1, 2026•0 citations