[Physics] The Stern Gerlach Experiment Revisited

quantum mechanicsquantum-spin

Is it possible to provide an explanation to the observations of the Stern Gerlach Experiment using the classical theories?

Some Considerations:

We consider the standard set-up for the Stern-Gerlach experiment. The predominant component of $\vec{B}$ is $B_{z}$ Again $B_{z}$ varies most strongly with changes in z

$$\vec{F}=\nabla(\vec{\mu}.\vec{B})\approx\vec{e}_{z}\mu_{z}\frac{\partial B_{z}}{\partial z}=\vec{e}_{z}F_{z}$$

The force acting on the electrons is supposed to cause the deflection.This causes acceleration in the z direction and hence an increase in the KE in the z direction.
The total KE of the electron(in consideration of the three directions) cannot change since magnetic field can only curve the path of an electron. It cannot change the magnitude of speed.Increase of speed in the z direction may be compensated by decrease of speed in the x or in the y direction Changes in the value of $B_z$ due to the accelerated motion of the electrons,is accompanied by the creation of an electric field:
$$Curl{\;} \vec{E}=-\frac{\partial \vec{ B}}{\partial t} $$
Decrease of magnetic energy= increase in electrical energy, if total KE remains unchanged for each particle. When the particles pass out of the region of interaction with the magnetic field the electrical energy restores the energy of the magnetic field.

Prior to this, while the interaction is going on , may write the curl B equation as:
$$\int\vec{E}.\vec{dl}=-\frac{d}{dt}\int\int\vec{B}.\vec{ds}$$
The integral on LHS is a closed line integral whose plane is in the x-y direction.The electrons seem to get accelerated in the x-y direction due to the emf in action and this should tend to restore the acceleration in the z-direction. The electrical effect is just a temporary effect.

Now,the greater the amount of deflecting force , due to higher value of $\mu_{z}$ ,greater the decrease in magnetic energy and greater the amount of acc in the x-y plane.The restoring effect becomes stronger for larger values of magnetic moment in the z-direction.Incidentally for each value/magnitude of $\mu_{z}$ we have to consider the two directions the ,+ve z and the -ve z directions.

Best Answer

Short answer: no.

The enormous power of this experiment is the excluded middle. A classical object going into analyzing region could have its magnetic moment in the X--Y plane generating no analyzing acceleration.

When you get two regions and an excluded middle you have discovered a non-classical behavior.

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