An Optically-Pumped Rb Electron Spin Filter
Abstract
Intense beams of polarized electrons have been produced in an optically-pumped cold cathode discharge. Either helium or nitrogen can be used as the primary discharge gas. A small partial pressure of Rb (density = 10^13/cm^3) in the discharge is optically pumped with a standing- wave dye laser operating at 795nm. This produces Rb that is spin polarized; the free electrons in the discharge become polarized through spin-exchange collisions with the Rb. The discharge gas also serves to reduce radiation trapping in the Rb(D.Tupa and L.W.Anderson, Phys.Rev.A 36, 2142(1987)). Electron polarizations in excess of 0.3 with beam currents of 5 microamperes and energy widths of less than 1 eV have been obtained with a first apparatus. These results are compared with other standard sources of polarized electrons.
- Publication:
-
APS Annual Gaseous Electronics Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- October 1998
- Bibcode:
- 1998APS..GEC.DM307B