stern gerlach experiment 1922

Stern–Gerlach Experiment (1922) – 100 Years Anniversary: Summary
The Stern–Gerlach experiment, performed in 1922 by Otto Stern and Walther Gerlach, was a landmark experiment in quantum physics. It demonstrated that atomic angular momentum is quantized.
In the experiment, a beam of silver atoms was passed through a non-uniform magnetic field. According to classical physics, the beam should spread continuously. Instead, the beam split into two distinct parts, showing that the magnetic moment of atoms can take only specific discrete values.
This result provided the first experimental proof of space quantization and later helped in understanding the concept of electron spin. The experiment played a crucial role in the development of quantum mechanics.
After 100 years, the Stern–Gerlach experiment is still regarded as a foundation of modern quantum physics, influencing technologies like MRI, quantum computing, and atomic physics research.