STERN-GERLACH EFFECT FOR ELECTRON-BEAMS

The conflict between Bohr's assertion that the magnetic moment of the electron cannot be measured with experiments based on the concept of c lassical trajectories, and the measurement of the magnetic moment of e lectrons in a modified Penning trap by Dehmelt et al. has led us to re evaluate other implications of Bohr's assertion. We show that, contrar y to the analysis of Bohr and Pauli, the assumption of classical traje ctories in a Stem-Gerlach-like device can result in a high degree of s pin separation for an electron beam. This effect may persist within a fully quantum-mechanical analysis. The magnetic fields considered are such that a tabletop Stern-Gerlach electron spin filter is feasible.