Ionization of a polarized atomic beam in a high magnetic field by use of charge exchange reactions

Abstract

An experiment is described to increase the intensity of polarized protons or deuterons in an atomic beam polarized ion source. A beam of polarized hydrogen atoms is ionized by charge exchange with an unpolarized proton beam. Charge exchange takes place in a magnetic field of up to 75 kG. The properties of this field were calculated for best injection of unpolarized ions and best extraction of the ionized particles. In a first test of the experimental arrangement it was possible to extract 1 μA protons from the atomic beam by using the reaction H + H + → H + + H. The efficiency of this process is about 1 × 10 −3 and can be increased.