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Canadian Journal of Physics

OBSERVATION OF THE TRANSVERSE STERN–GERLACH EFFECT IN NEUTRAL POTASSIUM

Myer Bloom, Eric Enga, Hin Lew

Published Apr 1, 1967• 26 citations
Publisher

Abstract

A successful transverse Stern–Gerlach experiment has been performed, using a beam of neutral potassium atoms and an inhomogeneous time-dependent magnetic field of the form[Formula: see text]A classical analysis of the Stern–Gerlach experiment is given for a rotating inhomogeneous magnetic field. In general, when space quantization is achieved, the spins are quantized along the effective magnetic field in the reference frame rotating with angular velocity ω about the z axis. For ω = 0, the direction of quantization is the z axis (conventional Stern–Gerlach experiment), while at resonance (ω = −γH 0 ) the direction of quantization is the x axis in the rotating reference frame (transverse Stern–Gerlach experiment). The experiment, which was performed at 7.2 Mc, is described in detail.

DOI
10.1139/p67-112

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An atom interferometer using two Stern-Gerlach magnets as polariser and analyser is described. The interferometer was first operated with a thermal beam of ground state potassium atoms. In that case the beam splitters are two radio-frequency zones within a transverse homogeneous magnetic field building a coherent superposition of Zeeman states. Ramsey fringes are obtained by scanning the RF-frequency through the resonance profile. Pulsing the RF power allows to get the time-of-flight distribution of the beam. Atomic interference fringes (``Stern-Gerlach fringes'') are observed when the magnitude of an inhomogeneous magnetic field located in between the beam splitters is scanned. When the inhomogeneous field is also pulsed, the scalar Bohm-Aharonov effect is observed. The use of metastable helium atoms (He*23S) in place of potassium atoms is proposed. In addition to the usual advantages provided by metastable atoms of high internal energy, this atom offers the specific advantage to behave as an ideal spin-one particle. This allows us to greatly simplify the polarisation scheme of the interferometer. Possible applications involving transversally inhomogeneous magnetic fields are given and limitations due to the finite source size and angular aperture are discussed.

Laser Physics Letters•Mar 9, 2004•12 citations
A successful transverse Stern–Gerlach experiment has been performed, using a beam of neutral potassium atoms and an inhomogeneous time-dependent magnetic field of the form[Formula: see text]A classical analysis of the Stern–Gerlach experiment is given for a rotating inhomogeneous magnetic field. In general, when space quantization is achieved, the spins are quantized along the effective magnetic field in the reference frame rotating with angular velocity ω about the z axis. For ω = 0, the direction of quantization is the z axis (conventional Stern–Gerlach experiment), while at resonance (ω = −γH 0 ) the direction of quantization is the x axis in the rotating reference frame (transverse Stern–Gerlach experiment). The experiment, which was performed at 7.2 Mc, is described in detail.
Two experiments are described. One is the successful observation of the resonant deflection of a beam of neutral potassium atoms at a frequency of 7.2 Mhz, in agreement with the predictions of the theory of the Transverse Stern-Gerlach (TGS) experiment. The other is a proposal for a charged particle Stern-Gerlach experiment, which is based on an extension of the TSG experiment to time independent, inhomogeneous magnetic fields having the form [formula omitted] If the field B₁(r) is well chosen, the charged particle trajectories are confined in a stable beam by the resulting Lorentz forces for motion generally along the z axis. This is, in fact, the principle of strong focusing which is now widely used in accelerator design. But in such a system it is also possible to satisfy the criterion for a TSG experiment, since in a frame of reference moving with a particle in the z direction, the field B₁(r) is rotating in time.
A Stern–Gerlach experiment constructed in the spirit of the original experiment is reported that demonstrates spatial quantization for a beam of silver atoms directly to the unaided eye. Splitting of the atomic beam is seen both parallel to the magnetic field direction, as in the “usual” experiment, and in a direction mutually perpendicular to the field and atomic trajectory, which is a new transverse Stern–Gerlach effect. Splitting of up to 4 mm can be recorded visually. Calculations based on the force components acting on the atomic beams reproduce the experimental results within the experimental accuracy of ±0.3 mm.
The splitting of a beam of potassium atoms in the classical Stern-Gerlach scheme under varying inhomogeneity of the magnetic field is experimentally investigated in this work. First, the basic shape of the beam in the absence of an effective field is recorded, which makes it possible to introduce and calibrate the geometrical parameters of the channel. Then, when the current in the magnet windings increases and the field gradient grows, a systematic shift of the beam density maxima is observed, described by the model function F(u), which includes the parameter q, which characterizes the strength of interaction of atoms with the field. Theoretical calculations based on this function showed good agreement with the experimental results, including the asymmetry of the distribution due to the nonideal symmetry of the magnetic system. The obtained dependences of the position of the intensity maxima on ∇B confirmed the validity of both linear and asymptotic approximation for different modes of magnet operation. These conclusions have both fundamental importance for understanding the quantum mechanical aspects of beam splitting and applied significance in the development of methods for precise control of spin-polarized atomic beams in spectroscopy and spintronics.
A thorough motion investigation and analysis was conducted again for the original Stern-Gerlach Experiment(SGE). The analysis is still based on the assumption that the atom passing the SG apparatus is a micromagnet due to the spin of its electron, the atoms in the source beam are with an orientation distribution of its angular momentum vectors, while the spin micromagnet is in the precession induced by an inhomogeneous magnetic field. It is the precession that keeps the silver beam with narrower orientation distribution of its angular momentum vectors after passing through the inhomogeneous magnetic field. The motion relativity was introduced in the SGE between the SG apparatus and the silver source beam, which interpreted all the detection phenomena in the multi-stage SGE. The research provided a new and convincing interpretation to the SGE with full satisfaction based on the classical physics without any mysterious or counter intuitive concepts introduced compared to quantum physics.
An atom interferometer using two Stern-Gerlach magnets as polariser and analyser is described. The interferometer was first operated with a thermal beam of ground state potassium atoms. In that case the beam splitters are two radio-frequency zones within a transverse homogeneous magnetic field building a coherent superposition of Zeeman states. Ramsey fringes are obtained by scanning the RF-frequency through the resonance profile. Pulsing the RF power allows to get the time-of-flight distribution of the beam. Atomic interference fringes (``Stern-Gerlach fringes'') are observed when the magnitude of an inhomogeneous magnetic field located in between the beam splitters is scanned. When the inhomogeneous field is also pulsed, the scalar Bohm-Aharonov effect is observed. The use of metastable helium atoms (He*23S) in place of potassium atoms is proposed. In addition to the usual advantages provided by metastable atoms of high internal energy, this atom offers the specific advantage to behave as an ideal spin-one particle. This allows us to greatly simplify the polarisation scheme of the interferometer. Possible applications involving transversally inhomogeneous magnetic fields are given and limitations due to the finite source size and angular aperture are discussed.