Stern-Gerlach splitting of low-energy ion beams

Abstract

We present a feasibility study with several magnetic field configurations for creating spin-dependent forces that can split a low-energy ion beam by the Stern-Gerlach effect. To the best of our knowledge, coherent spin-splittings of charged particles have yet to be realised. Our proposal is based on ion source parameters taken from a recent experiment that demonstrated single-ion implantation from a high-brightness ion source combined with a radio-frequency Paul trap. The inhomogeneous magnetic fields can be created by permanently magnetised microstructures or from current-carrying wires with sizes in the micron range, such as those recently used in a successful implementation of the Stern-Gerlach effect with neutral atoms. All relevant forces (Lorentz force and image charges) are taken into account, and measurable splittings are found by analytical and numerical calculations.

22 pages, 6 figures, expanded discussion about Stern-Gerlach splitting of electrons

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Cited by in corpus (7)

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• Phonon-induced contrast in a matter-wave interferometer
• Single Ion Thermal Wave Packet Analyzed Via Time-Of-Flight Detection
• Classical, quantum and event-by-event simulation of a Stern-Gerlach experiment with neutrons