English

A computer-simulated Stern-Gerlach laboratory

Physics Education 2015-03-02 v1 Quantum Physics

Abstract

We describe an interactive computer program that simulates Stern-Gerlach measurements on spin-1/2 and spin-1 particles. The user can design and run experiments involving successive spin measurements, illustrating incompatible observables, interference, and time evolution. The program can be used by students at a variety of levels, from non-science majors in a general interest course to physics majors in an upper-level quantum mechanics course. We give suggested homework exercises using the program at various levels.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1502.07036,
  title  = {A computer-simulated Stern-Gerlach laboratory},
  author = {Daniel V. Schroeder and Thomas A. Moore},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1502.07036},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

8 pages, 9 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-22T08:37:17.089Z