Molecular Beams in Physics and Chemistry : : From Otto Stern's Pioneering Exploits to Present-Day Feats

• Author: Friedrich, Bretislav.
• TeilnehmendeR: Schmidt-Böcking, Horst.
• Year of Publication: 2021
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (639 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

This Open Access book gives a comprehensive account of both the history and current achievements of molecular beam research. In 1919, Otto Stern launched the revolutionary molecular beam technique. This technique made it possible to send atoms and molecules with well-defined momentum through vacuum and to measure with high accuracy the deflections they underwent when acted upon by transversal forces. These measurements revealed unforeseen quantum properties of nuclei, atoms, and molecules that became the basis for our current understanding of quantum matter. This volume shows that many key areas of modern physics and chemistry owe their beginnings to the seminal molecular beam work of Otto Stern and his school. Written by internationally recognized experts, the contributions in this volume will help experienced researchers and incoming graduate students alike to keep abreast of current developments in molecular beam research as well as to appreciate the history and evolution of this powerful method and the knowledge it reveals.

Table of Contents

Intro -- Preface -- Contents -- 1 An Homage to Otto Stern -- 1 The Frankfurt Conference -- 2 Learning About Otto Stern and Molecular Beams -- 3 Meeting Otto Stern and Hearing Stories from Him -- 4 Fests with Otto Stern Present -- 5 Centennial of Otto Stern and Beyond -- 6 Epilogue -- Appendix: A Historical Puzzle -- Appendix: Lyrics of Cole Porter's "Experiment" -- References -- 2 A Greeting from Hamburg to the Otto Stern Symposium -- Part I Historical Perspectives -- 3 My Uncle Otto Stern -- References -- 4 My Great Uncle

5 Otto Stern's Molecular Beam Method and Its Impact on Quantum Physics -- 1 Prolog -- 2 Otto Stern's Seminal Experiments -- 2.1 The Stern-Gerlach Experiment -- 2.2 The Three-Stage Stern-Gerlach Experiment -- 2.3 Experimental Evidence for de Broglie's Matter Waves -- 2.4 Measurements of the Magnetic Dipole Moment of the Proton and the Deuteron -- 2.5 Experimental Demonstration of Momentum Transfer Upon Absorption or Emission of a Photon -- 2.6 The Experimental Verification of the Maxwell-Boltzmann Velocity Distribution via Deflection of a Molecular Beam by Gravity -- 3 Epilog -- References

6 Otto Stern-With Einstein in Prague and in Zürich -- 1 One Semester in Prague -- 2 Interacting with the Stars at ETH -- 3 The "Zero-Point Energy" Paper -- 4 The Habilitation Process -- 5 Concluding Remarks -- References -- 7 Our Enduring Legacy from Otto Stern -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Preface: A View of Otto Stern's Legacy in 1988 -- 3 Portraying Our Enduring Legacy Today -- 4 The Nobel Prizes of Stern and Rabi -- 5 Links Connecting the AMO Nobel Laureates to Otto Stern -- 6 Otto Stern's Heritage in Chemistry -- 7 Epigraph

Appendix: A Summary of Links between the AMO Nobel Laureates and Stern/Rabi -- References -- 8 Walther Gerlach (1889-1979): Precision Physicist, Educator and Research Organizer, Historian of Science -- 1 Introduction -- 2 Walther Gerlach's Social Background, Upbringing, and Education -- 3 Precision Physics -- 3.1 Black-Body Radiation -- 3.2 Walther Gerlach and the Stern-Gerlach Experiment -- 3.3 Radiation Pressure -- 4 Gerlach's Involvement in the Uranprojekt -- 5 Gerlach's Work in the History of Science -- 6 In Conclusion -- References

9 100 Years Molecular Beam Method Reproduction of Otto Stern's Atomic Beam Velocity Measurement -- 1 Otto Stern's Historic Atomic Beam Velocity Measurement -- 2 Reproduction of Otto Stern's Atomic Beam Velocity Measurement -- 2.1 Reconstruction of the Apparatus -- 2.2 The Trajectories -- 2.3 Measurement of the Rotation Frequency -- 2.4 Mean Free-Path and Quality of the Vacuum -- 2.5 Measurement of the Temperature of the Filament -- 2.6 The Improved Experimental Setup and the Decisive Measurement -- References -- 10 Wilhelm Heinrich Heraeus-Doctoral Student at the University Frankfurt -- Reference

Part II Foundations of Quantum Physics and Precision Measurements