These Tutorial Exercises show the effect of a single ideal Stern-Gerlach apparatus, whose inhomogeneous magnetic field is in the z direction, on a beam of spin-1/2 particles from an oven on the left of the simulation. The incident beam can either be a beam of a random (or statistical) mixture of spin orientations, a beam of a particular spin eigenstate (such as |z+> or |z−>), a beam of a particular superposition of eigenstates (such as 0.707[|z+> + |z−>]), and a beam of a particular unknown superposition (such as c+|z+> + c−|z−>). Once through the ideal Stern-Gerlach apparatus, the output is detected at the counters represented by the horizontal bars and their associated numbers.
When performing these virtual experiments it is important to: FIRST make a prediction, SECOND run the "measure 1 time" simulation and click the "Do Step" button a few times to get some data, THIRD re-formulate your prediction if need be, FOURTH run the "measure 1000 times" simulation and click the "Do Step" button a few times to get a lot of data, and FINALLY reconcile the outcome with your original predictions.
NOTE: For these exercises, the incident beam contains an ensemble of identically prepared particles all with a particular spin eigenstate (|z+>).
Exercises for the Spin Eigenstate: |z+>
~~1. Run the |z+> (spin eigenstate) simulation. Predict, then describe the results of the experiments.
~~2. Predict the outcome of an experiment where the ideal Stern-Gerlach apparatus is oriented in the x direction. What about if the ideal Stern-Gerlach apparatus was in the y direction? What about the spin eigenstate leads you to this conclusion?