Loss-free polarization of pulsed neutron beams

Abstract

We study the feasibility and efficiency of the so-called “dynamical polarization” of neutrons under realistic conditions. This loss-free technique exploits the spin-dependent energy shift of neutrons traversing a NMR-like magnetic field arrangement in combination with Larmor precession of their magnetic moments to end up in a situation where all particles finally are in the same spin state. We present possible field configurations for the application of this dynamical polarization method to pulsed polychromatic beams and investigate their stability under realistic experimental conditions.