Optically Pumped Polarized Helium-3 Targets for Nuclear Physics Experiments
Abstract
Over the past decade, optically pumped polarized ^3He targets have become a vital component of polarized nuclear physics experiments. In 1998, a new target system was first used in Hall A at Jefferson Lab to investigate the spin structure of the neutron and ^3He in two separate experiments. More recently, the target system was used in two additional experiments and achieved polarization of nearly 50% without beam and 45% with beam. The helium gas is contained in a two-chambered glass cell and is polarized by spin exchange with optically pumped, polarized rubidium vapor. These cells typically contain 8.5 atmospheres of gas (at STP) and are operated with continuous electron beam currents of 10-15μA. Details of the Jefferson Lab target system and it's recent performance will be presented.
- Publication:
-
APS Southeastern Section Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- November 2001
- Bibcode:
- 2001APS..SES.LA002A