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arXiv · 1506.04632

Stern-Gerlach Experiment with Higher Spins

Bayram Tekin
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Abstract

We analyze idealized sequential Stern-Gerlach experiments with higher spin particles. This analysis serves at least two purposes: The widely discussed spin-1/2 case leads to some misunderstandings which hopefully is removed by the higher spin discussion. Secondly, 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 apparatuses for generic spins. We work out the spin-$1/2$, spin-$1$ and spin-$2$ cases explicitly. Since there are some confusing issues regarding the actual experiment, we also compile a "facts and fiction" section on the SG experiments.

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Bayram Tekin. 2016-03-23. Stern-Gerlach Experiment with Higher Spins. https://doi.org/10.1088/0143-0807%2F37%2F3%2F035401

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