PhysRevA.60.63.pdf (1.05 MB)
Observing the spin of a free electron
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 23:58 authored by Barry M. GarrawayBarry M. Garraway, S StenholmLong ago, Bohr, Pauli, and Mott argued that it is not, in principle, possible to measure the spin components of a free electron. One can try to use a Stern-Gerlach type of device, but the finite size of the beam results in an uncertainty of the splitting force that is comparable with the gradient force. The result is that no definite spin measurement can be made. Recently there has been a revival of interest in this problem, and we will present our own analysis and quantum-mechanical wave-packet calculations which suggest that a spin measurement is possible for a careful choice of initial conditions.
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Physical Review AISSN
10502947Publisher
Physical Review AExternal DOI
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1Volume
60Page range
63-79ISBN
1050-2947Department affiliated with
- Physics and Astronomy Publications
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2012-02-06First Open Access (FOA) Date
2016-03-22First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2017-03-07Usage metrics
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