Large electron polarization of H-like20Ne-ions traversing gd foils at very high velocities

Abstract

It is shown that transient magnetic fields in Gd-host for20Ne ions at a mean velocity of 12.5v0(v0=c/137), considerably beyond the Bohr velocity of 1s electrons of Ne ions (v1s=10v0), are dominated by the Fermi contact field of these electrons. The first excited 2+-state of2Ne was used as probe. The derived value for the mean degree of polarization p1s=0.32(13), is surprisingly large, though still consistent with values obtained at lower velocities. Present calculations of spin exchange cross sections severely underestimate the observed polarization at this high velocity.