A study of spin-exchange polarization transfer in hydrogen-rubidium collisions

Abstract

The results of experimental studies of basic limitations on optical pumping of high density rubidium vapor are presented. A maximum 40% proton polarization was obtained in a spin exchange optically pumped polarized H− ion source using a 30 cm long dry‐film coated cell. About 50% polarization was measured with a 90 cm long copper uncoated cell at a Rb thickness of 8×1014 atoms/cm2. A pulsed Ti:sapphire laser was used for optical pumping of Rb with up to 1 kW pulsed power, 200 μsec pulse duration, and 10–15 GHz linewidth.