spins_unit_sg_experiment.ppt Page 12

• Have students open the Stern Gerlach simulation on their computers
• Ask them what each object in the simulation represents
• Explicitly remind the students that random atoms come out of the oven, so without the first device we would not be able to select a beam consisting only of atoms deflected up when the inhomogeneous magnetic field is aligned along the z-axis.
• Once a beam is 'prepared' with a certain spin, then we can use a second device to analyze the spin - hence the names 'state preparation device' and 'analyzer'
• Have students set up the situation shown in slide 12, and run the simulation to make sure they can run the simulation before starting the lab.