Classical, Quantum and Event-by-Event Simulation of a Stern-Gerlach Experiment with Neutrons.
Stern–Gerlach experiment
classical mechanics
event-by-event simulation
quantum mechanics
Journal
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 1099-4300
Titre abrégé: Entropy (Basel)
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 101243874
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
17 Aug 2022
17 Aug 2022
Historique:
received:
06
07
2022
revised:
11
08
2022
accepted:
14
08
2022
entrez:
26
8
2022
pubmed:
27
8
2022
medline:
27
8
2022
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
We present a comprehensive simulation study of the Newtonian and quantum model of a Stern-Gerlach experiment with cold neutrons. By solving Newton's equation of motion and the time-dependent Pauli equation for a wide range of uniform magnetic field strengths, we scrutinize the role of the latter for drawing the conclusion that the magnetic moment of the neutron is quantized. We then demonstrate that a marginal modification of the Newtonian model suffices to construct, without invoking any concept of quantum theory, an event-based subquantum model that eliminates the shortcomings of the classical model and yields results that are in qualitative agreement with experiment and quantum theory. In this event-by-event model, the intrinsic angular momentum can take any value on the sphere, yet, for a sufficiently strong uniform magnetic field, the particle beam splits in two, exactly as in experiment and in concert with quantum theory.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36010807
pii: e24081143
doi: 10.3390/e24081143
pmc: PMC9407270
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Références
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pubmed: 16590541