Enhanced polarization of low pressure [formula omitted]He through metastability exchange optical pumping at high field

Abstract

We report high steady-state nuclear polarization of 1torr 3He gas nuclei via metastability exchange optical pumping at magnetic fields above 2T. The introduction of highly polarized 3He gas into Brookhaven’s Electron Beam Ion Source would enable a new, polarized 3He ion source for use at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and a future Electron–Ion Collider facility. By adapting recent developments in high field metastability exchange optical pumping for higher pressure gas, we have successfully polarized 1torr 3He sealed cells in the EBIS solenoid. Through careful manipulation of the RF discharge parameters, polarizations above 80% were attained at 2, 3 and 4T, with 89% being reached at 3T with a 664s relaxation time.