The inaccuracy persists, e.g. in your comment - "the wave" I can image along literal hand waving. I'm being cynic because this polarization filter experiment ha

The inaccuracy persists, e.g. in your comment - "the wave" I can image along literal hand waving. I'm being cynic because this polarization filter experiment had me dumbfounded. Blocking the way between the second and third filter will show no light, as if the third filter wasn't there. It appears as if there is a wave but polarized in a way that doesn't reflect from the hand and the third filter would polarize it again. I believe that's also what you are saying. Only, what is "the wave"? > a narrow band. Are you agreeing with Scotty79 above? What band? But, anyway, I don't see the analogy to Stern-Gerlach (which I only skimmed quickly on wikipedia).