Effects of high-flux neutron beams on He-3 cells polarized in situ with spin-exchange optical pumping

Authors

E. Babcock
S. Boag
M. Becker
W. C. Chen
T. E. Chupp
T. R. Gentile
Gordon L. Jones, Hamilton CollegeFollow
A. K. Petukhov
T. Soldner
T. G. Walker

Type of Work

Article

Date

9-1-2009

Journal Title

Physical Review A

Journal ISSN

2469-9926

Journal Volume

80

Journal Issue

3

First Page

033414

DOI

10.1103/PhysRevA.80.033414

Abstract

Polarized He-3 produced by spin-exchange optical pumping (SEOP) has potential as a neutron spin filter for polarization and polarization analysis in many neutron-scattering and neutron particle physics applications. The advantage of the SEOP method is its suitability for providing continuous stable polarization over the course of long experiments. However, we have discovered that exposure to high neutron flux leads to additional strong relaxation mechanisms in the optically polarized alkali-metal vapor used to polarize the He-3. At a neutron flux density of 4.7 x 10(9) cm(-2) s(-1), the alkali-metal relaxation rate increased from 100 to 1000 s(-1) leading to reduced alkali-metal polarization. Other effects such as time dependence and gas composition dependence were explored to help understand the processes. In this paper we discuss our observations and present possible solutions for practical use of SEOP as a neutron spin filter for high-flux density applications.

Citation Information

Babcock, E.; Boag, S.; Becker, M.; Chen, W. C.; Chupp, T. E.; Gentile, T. R.; Jones, Gordon L.; Petukhov, A. K.; Soldner, T.; and Walker, T. G., "Effects of high-flux neutron beams on He-3 cells polarized in situ with spin-exchange optical pumping" (2009). Hamilton Digital Commons.
https://digitalcommons.hamilton.edu/articles/27

Notes

This document is the publisher's version of an article published in:

Physical Review A, vol. 80, no. 3 (2009): 033414. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevA.80.033414.

Hamilton Areas of Study

Physics