Question about the Stern-Gerlach Expirement

[frankR]

If F_z changes according to &mu_zdB/dz and the silver atoms are collimated into a beam how does the dipole magnetic moment of the atoms see and change in the B-field if the beam is cutting across the B-field perpendicularly?

How does a changing B-field, in the vertical direction affect the Ag atoms? It seems to me the B-field wouldn't affect the atoms.

I hope I'm making sense, let me know if you need me to restate to be clearer, I hope other have faced this question as I am.

 

[quantumdude]

Originally posted by frankR
If F_z changes according to &mu_zdB/dz and the silver atoms are collimated into a beam how does the dipole magnetic moment of the atoms see and change in the B-field if the beam is cutting across the B-field perpendicularly?

I think you just answered your own question. The force on the atom is, as you say, F_z=μ_z(dB/dz). All of those quantities are nonzero, so there is a force.

How does a changing B-field, in the vertical direction affect the Ag atoms? It seems to me the B-field wouldn't affect the atoms.

I hope I'm making sense, let me know if you need me to restate to be clearer, I hope other have faced this question as I am.

I'm not sure of why you are having trouble, so I think you will have to explain.

 

[frankR]

I'll have to think about it further...



Why does the B-field need to change in the z direction to impart a deflection on the Ag atoms? I haven't quite grasped that concept, maybe my B-field knowledge is a little rusty?

 

[quantumdude]

Originally posted by frankR
Why does the B-field need to change in the z direction to impart a deflection on the Ag atoms?

That's how B-fields interact with dipole moments. I think part of your difficulty here might be that you expect magnetic dipoles and B-fields to interact in the same way as electric charges and E-fields, which is not the case.