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Visualisation of quantum evolution in the Stern–Gerlach and Rabi experiments

Visualisation of quantum evolution in the Stern–Gerlach and Rabi experiments
Visualisation of quantum evolution in the Stern–Gerlach and Rabi experiments
The Stern–Gerlach experiment is a seminal experiment in quantum physics, involving the interaction between a particle with spin and an applied magnetic field gradient. A recent article [Wennerström et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2012, 14, 1677–1684] claimed that a full understanding of the Stern–Gerlach experiment can only be attained if transverse spin relaxation is taken into account, generated by fluctuating magnetic fields originating in the magnetic materials which generate the field gradient. This interpretation is contrary to the standard quantum description of the Stern–Gerlach experiment, which requires no dissipative effects. We present simulations of conventional quantum dynamics in the Stern–Gerlach experiment, using extended Wigner functions to describe the propagation of the quantum state in space and time. No relaxation effects are required to reproduce the qualitative experimental behaviour. We also present simulations of quantum dynamics in the Rabi experiment, in which an applied radiofrequency field induces spin transitions in the particle wave.
1463-9076
3867-3872
Utz, Marcel
c84ed64c-9e89-4051-af39-d401e423891b
Levitt, Malcolm H.
bcc5a80a-e5c5-4e0e-9a9a-249d036747c3
Cooper, Nathan
0ce01d5f-1845-448e-8f27-a07df4681eb7
Ulbricht, Hendrik
5060dd43-2dc1-47f8-9339-c1a26719527d
Utz, Marcel
c84ed64c-9e89-4051-af39-d401e423891b
Levitt, Malcolm H.
bcc5a80a-e5c5-4e0e-9a9a-249d036747c3
Cooper, Nathan
0ce01d5f-1845-448e-8f27-a07df4681eb7
Ulbricht, Hendrik
5060dd43-2dc1-47f8-9339-c1a26719527d

Utz, Marcel, Levitt, Malcolm H., Cooper, Nathan and Ulbricht, Hendrik (2015) Visualisation of quantum evolution in the Stern–Gerlach and Rabi experiments. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 17, 3867-3872. (doi:10.1039/C4CP05606J).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The Stern–Gerlach experiment is a seminal experiment in quantum physics, involving the interaction between a particle with spin and an applied magnetic field gradient. A recent article [Wennerström et al., Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2012, 14, 1677–1684] claimed that a full understanding of the Stern–Gerlach experiment can only be attained if transverse spin relaxation is taken into account, generated by fluctuating magnetic fields originating in the magnetic materials which generate the field gradient. This interpretation is contrary to the standard quantum description of the Stern–Gerlach experiment, which requires no dissipative effects. We present simulations of conventional quantum dynamics in the Stern–Gerlach experiment, using extended Wigner functions to describe the propagation of the quantum state in space and time. No relaxation effects are required to reproduce the qualitative experimental behaviour. We also present simulations of quantum dynamics in the Rabi experiment, in which an applied radiofrequency field induces spin transitions in the particle wave.

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Accepted/In Press date: 16 December 2014
e-pub ahead of print date: 2014
Published date: January 2015
Organisations: Magnetic Resonance

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Local EPrints ID: 373562
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/373562
ISSN: 1463-9076
PURE UUID: 532dfd8a-127b-48a0-9f1e-ea2f6c9e08f3
ORCID for Marcel Utz: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2274-9672
ORCID for Malcolm H. Levitt: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-9878-1180
ORCID for Hendrik Ulbricht: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-0356-0065

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Date deposited: 22 Jan 2015 11:20
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:44

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Contributors

Author: Marcel Utz ORCID iD
Author: Nathan Cooper

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