施特恩-格拉赫实验是德国物理学家奥托·施特恩和瓦尔特·格拉赫为证实原子角动量量子化于1921年到1922年期间完成的一个著名实验。如图所示，施特恩-格拉赫实验设法令高温的银原子从高温炉中射出，经狭缝准直后形成一个原子射线束，而后银原子射线束通过一个不均匀的磁场区域，射线束在磁场作用下发生偏折，最后落在屏上。如果原子磁矩的方向是可以任意取向的，则屏上形成一片黑斑。而实验发现屏上形成了几条清晰的黑斑，表明银原子的磁矩只能取几个特定的方向，从而验证了原子角动量的投影是量子化的。施特恩-格拉赫实验是历史上第一次直接观察到原子磁矩取矢量子化的实验。

The Stern–Gerlach experiment showed that the spatial orientation of angular momentum is quantized. It demonstrated that atomic-scale systems have intrinsically quantum properties, and that measurement in quantum mechanics affects the system being measured. In the original experiment, silver atoms were sent through a non-uniform magnetic field, which deflected them before they struck a detector screen. Other kinds of particles can be used. If the particles have a magnetic moment related to their spin angular momentum, the magnetic field gradient deflects them from a straight path. The screen reveals discrete points of accumulation rather than a continuous distribution, owing to the quantum nature of spin. Historically, this experiment was decisive in convincing physicists of the reality of angular momentum quantization in all atomic-scale systems.