Stern-Gerlach experiment

The Stern-Gerlach experiment demonstrates the quantized nature of quantum states. In this experiment, a stream of silver atoms is passed through a magnetic field, which causes the atoms' magnetic moments to align. Instead of spreading out, the atoms split into specific, discrete paths based on their spin orientation: up or down. This surprising separation shows that quantum properties, like spin, are not continuous but come in distinct values. The experiment is crucial in illustrating the principles of quantum mechanics and has implications for our understanding of atomic structure and fundamental physics.