Precession of States Subjected to Bz Only
In these exercises a beam of spin-1/2 particles (in this case, electrons) leaves an oven incident on an ideal Stern-Gerlach apparatus oriented in the x direction. The beam is then split into |+> and |−> components and the |+> component is sent through a magnet (red) of and then on to another ideal Stern-Gerlach apparatus before being detected at the counters.
~~1. In these simulations, a beam of electrons is sent through a magnet for a fixed time equal to t = 2πmec/36|e|. Given this time, what does the magnetic field strength correspond to? Why were the fields in the simulations (a-e) chosen? Consider specifically the quantity ωt.
~~2. Run the simulations. What happens to the original state, |x+>, as the magnetic field changes from simulation to simulation? This effect is called spin precession by analogy with the precession of a top. Why? As a consequence, what do you expect to happen if the second ideal Stern-Gerlach analyzer was oriented in the y direction? The z direction?
~~3. If instead of changing the field strength, consider keeping the field constant and allowing the beam of electrons to be in the magnetic field for different times. In this case, what happens to the original state, |x+>, as a function of time?