Velocity Analysis by Means of the Stern-Gerlach Effect

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Abstract
A Stern-Gerlach experiment furnishes a convenient method of studying the velocity distribution in a molecular beam. In addition it is possible to obtain some information concerning the behavior of the field gradient as a function of position. This method has been applied to a beam of alkali atoms and shows that with low vapor pressure in the oven the Maxwell distribution law is fulfilled whereas at oven pressures such that the mean free path is much less than the width of the oven slit a departure sets in. It is found that the field gradient is quite uniform over almost half the trough height for deflections inside the trough. Toward the wedge the gradient varies rapidly.