Where do the extra particles go

[edguy99]

Web sites such as http://www.kcvs.ca/martin/phys/phys243/labs/sglab/stern_gerlach.html" explain the effect of a particle going through multiple SG detectors. For example:

If electrons going in the y direction are first measured in the z direction, then the x direction and then again in the z direction, they fail to hit the detector.

Does anyone know what happens to the extra particles that do not hit the last detector? The site speaks of loss of "kinetic energy", but what happens to the particle? Do they simply stop and fall due to gravity? Do they take a hard right or left to miss the detector?

In the case of electrons, there must be substantial charge building up somewhere and in the case of silver atoms, do you scrape them off the insides of the device after each run?

 

[maverick_starstrider]

Web sites such as http://www.kcvs.ca/martin/phys/phys243/labs/sglab/stern_gerlach.html" explain the effect of a particle going through multiple SG detectors. For example:

If electrons going in the y direction are first measured in the z direction, then the x direction and then again in the z direction, they fail to hit the detector.

Does anyone know what happens to the extra particles that do not hit the last detector? The site speaks of loss of "kinetic energy", but what happens to the particle? Do they simply stop and fall due to gravity? Do they take a hard right or left to miss the detector?

In the case of electrons, there must be substantial charge building up somewhere and in the case of silver atoms, do you scrape them off the insides of the device after each run?

How is it possible to put particles through an X, Y AND Z? If a Z magnet is oriented vertically then a Y is oriented horizontally and then an X is oriented along the path of travel... How would the particles "get in"?

 

[DaveC426913]

Perhaps you want to link to the full-sized image, rather than the thumb.

 

[edguy99]

How is it possible to put particles through an X, Y AND Z? If a Z magnet is oriented vertically then a Y is oriented horizontally and then an X is oriented along the path of travel... How would the particles "get in"?

Full size picture http://www.animatedphysics.com/sterngerlachmachine.gif" . The particle is generated on the left side and comes out with its kinetic energy directly pointed in the Y direction. The SG machine first measures the Z direction causing some particles to go up and some down by tiny amounts (in the mm). Of all the particles that go up, they measure in the X direction and sure enough, this causes half the particles to move slightly towards you and half the particles to move slightly away from you.

The weird thing is this: if you measure again in the Z direction, all the particles stop.

 

[alxm]

Gravity? No. Magnetic field, yes.