Development and application of a [formula omitted]He Neutron Spin Filter at J-PARC

Abstract

We are developing a neutron polarizer with polarized 3He gas, referred to as a 3He spin filter, based on the Spin Exchange Optical Pumping (SEOP) for polarized neutron scattering experiments at Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) of Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC). A 3He gas-filling station was constructed at J-PARC, and several 3He cells with long spin relaxation times have been fabricated using the gas-filling station. A laboratory has been prepared in the MLF beam hall for polarizing 3He cells, and compact pumping systems with laser powers of 30 W and 110 W, which can be installed onto a neutron beamline, have been developed. A 3He polarization of 85% was achieved at a neutron beamline by using the pumping system with the 110 W laser. Recently, the first user experiment utilizing the 3He spin filter was conducted, and there have been several more since then. The development and utilization of 3He spin filters at MLF of J-PARC are reported.