Laser production of polarized beams and targets

Abstract

Hyperfine interaction techniques have historically been applied to produce polarized nuclei. The use of optical pumping with tunable lasers is a new hyperfine interaction method which dramatically extends the range of nuclear species which can be polarized, as well as the fluxes and densities which can be achieved and the temperature range in which experiments can be carried out. Lasers are ideally suided for the production of polarized atomic beams, as will be illustrated for the cases of6,7Li,23Na and3He. Techniques for polarizing dense atomic vapors will be described with an emphasis on achieving full Doppler coverage by the method of velocity changing collisions. Experiments leading to the production of a6Li target for a parity non-conservation study of the nuclear reaction6Li(α,γ)10B will be reviewed and results obtained to date presented.