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Physical review. B, Condensed matter

Theory of relaxation of magnetic clusters in a Stern-Gerlach setup

Sushanta Dattagupta, S. D. Mahanti

Published May 1, 1998• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

We use a stochastic theory approach to discuss different scenarios such as ``locked moment'' and ``superparamagnetic'' behavior of magnetic clusters seen in Stern-Gerlach (SG) experiments. A dimensionless parameter $\ensuremath{\lambda}{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{E}$ (where \ensuremath{\lambda} is an internal spin relaxation rate and ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{E}$ is the time spent by the cluster in the field gradient region) and the initial polarization of the cluster moment are shown to determine sensitively the position of the cluster beam on the SG screen.

DOI
10.1103/physrevb.57.10244

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We use a stochastic theory approach to discuss different scenarios such as locked moment'' and superparamagnetic'' behavior of magnetic clusters seen in Stern-Gerlach (SG) experiments. A dimensionless parameter \ensuremathλ\ensuremathτE\ensuremath{\lambda}{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{E}\ensuremathλ\ensuremathτE​ (where \ensuremath{\lambda} is an internal spin relaxation rate and \ensuremathτE{\ensuremath{\tau}}_{E}\ensuremathτE​ is the time spent by the cluster in the field gradient region) and the initial polarization of the cluster moment are shown to determine sensitively the position of the cluster beam on the SG screen.
The classical Stern-Gerlach experiment is analyzed with an emphasis on the spin dynamics. The central question asked is whether there occurs a relaxation of the spin angular momentum during the time the particle passes through the Stern-Gerlach magnet. We examine in particular the transverse relaxation, involving angular momentum exchange between the spin of the particles and the spins of the magnet. A method is presented describing relaxation effects at an individual particle level. This leads to a stochastic equation of motion for the spins. This is coupled to a classical equation of motion for the particle translation. The experimental situation is then modeled through simulations of individual trajectories using two sets of parameter choices and three different sets of initial conditions. The two main conclusions are: (A) if the coupling between the magnet and the spin is solely described by the Zeeman interaction with the average magnetic field the simulations show a clear disagreement with the experimental observation of Stern and Gerlach. (B) If one, on the other hand, also allows for a T(2) relaxation time shorter than the passage time one can obtain a practically quantitative agreement with the experimental observations. These conclusions are at variance with the standard textbook explanation of the Stern-Gerlach experiment.
The Stern-Gerlach experiment is a seminal experiment in quantum physics, involving the interaction between a particle with spin and an applied magnetic field gradient. A recent article [Wennerström et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2012, 14, 1677-1684] claimed that a full understanding of the Stern-Gerlach experiment can only be attained if transverse spin relaxation is taken into account, generated by fluctuating magnetic fields originating in the magnetic materials which generate the field gradient. This interpretation is contrary to the standard quantum description of the Stern-Gerlach experiment, which requires no dissipative effects. We present simulations of conventional quantum dynamics in the Stern-Gerlach experiment, using extended Wigner functions to describe the propagation of the quantum state in space and time. No relaxation effects are required to reproduce the qualitative experimental behaviour. We also present simulations of quantum dynamics in the Rabi experiment, in which an applied radiofrequency field induces spin transitions in the particle wave.
We analyze a coincidence Stern-Gerlach measurement often discussed in connection with the derivation and illustration of Bell's theorem. The treatment is based on our recent analysis of the original Stern-Gerlach experiment (PCCP, 14, 1677‐1684 (2012)), where it is concluded that it is necessary to include a spin relaxation process to account for the experimental observations. We consider two limiting cases of a coincidence measurement using both an analytical and a numerical description. In on limit relaxation effects are neglected. In this case the correlation between the two spins present in the initial state is conserved during the passage through the magnets. However, at exit the z coordinate along the magnetic field gradient is randomly distributed between the two extreme values. In the other limit T2 relaxation is assumed to be fast relative to the time of flight through the magnet. In this case the z coordinate takes one of two possible values as observed in the original Stern‐Gerlach experiment. Due to the presence of a relaxation process involving transfer of angular momentum between particle and magnet the initially entangled spin state changes character leading to a loss of correlation between the two spins. In the original derivations of Bell's theorem based on a coincidence Stern‐Gerlach setup one assumes both a perfect correlation between the spins and only two possible values for the z‐coordinate on exit. According to the present calculations one can satisfy either of these conditions but not both simultaneously.
Abstract We analyze idealized sequential Stern–Gerlach (SG) experiments with higher spin particles. This analysis serves at least two purposes: the widely discussed spin-1/2 case leads to some misunderstandings since the probabilities are always evenly distributed for the sequential orthogonal magnets, which does not generalize to higher spins. A detailed discussion of the higher spin case, as is done here, is highly useful. Secondly, the Wigner rotation matrices for generic spins become conceptually more transparent with this physical example. We also give compact formulas for the probabilities in terms of the angle between the sequential SG apparatus for generic spins. We work out the spin-1/2, spin-1 cases explicitly. Since there are some confusing issues regarding the actual experiment, we also compile a ‘facts and fiction’ section on the SG experiments.
We present a state estimation scheme for spins using a modified setup of the Stern-Gerlach experiment in which a beam of neutral spin-1/2 point particles interacts with a quadrupolar magnetic field. The proposed estimation procedures, based either on a quadrant or a continuous intensity distribution detection, require a suitable initial spatial state of the beam. The statistical characterization of the estimators of the initial spin state allows us not only to associate an error to the estimated parameters, but also to define a measure for comparing estimation procedures corresponding to different Stern-Gerlach setups.
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 also in a second y-direction. An explicit relation is derived for how an initial off center deviation in the y-direction affects the final result observed at the detector. This shows that the “mouth shape” pattern at the detector observed in the original Stern–Gerlach experiment is a generic consequence of the gradient in the y-direction. This is followed by a discussion of the spin dynamics during the entry of the silver atom into the magnet. An analytical relation is derived for a simplified case of a field only along the z-direction. A central question for the conceptual understanding of the Stern–Gerlach experiment has been how an initially unpolarized spin ends up in a polarized state at the detector. It is argued that this can be understood with the use of the adiabatic approximation. When the atoms first experience the magnetic field outside the magnet, there is in general a change in the spin state, which transforms from a degenerate eigenstate in the absence of a field into one of two possible non-degenerate states in the field. If the direction of the field changes during the passage through the device, there is a corresponding adiabatic change of the spin state. It is shown that an application of the adiabatic approximation in this way is consistent with the previously derived exact relations.