Spin exchange optical pumping at pressures near 1 bar for neutron spin filters
Type of Work
Article
Date
3-25-2002
Journal Title
Applied Physics Letters
Journal ISSN
0003-6951
Journal Volume
80
Journal Issue
12
First Page
2210
Last Page
2212
DOI
10.1063/1.1461424
Abstract
Motivated by applications to neutron spin filters and recent advances in spectrally narrowed laser diode arrays (LDAs), we are exploring spin exchange optical pumping of He-3 at pressures near 1 bar. Among our more interesting results has been the production of glass cells with extremely long relaxation times. The best of these has a lifetime of T-1=840 h [where the polarization decays versus time, t, as exp(-t/T-1)], dominated by the dipole-dipole contribution of 950 h at a He-3 partial pressure of 0.85 bar. Using a broadband LDA, we have obtained 55% He-3 nuclear polarization in this cell. These results are particularly relevant to the application of He-3-based neutron spin filters to neutron scattering and weak interaction experiments. Applications to magnetometry and polarized gas magnetic resonance imaging are also possible. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.
Citation Information
Rich, D. R.; Gentile, T. R.; Smith, T. B.; Thompson, A. K.; and Jones, Gordon L., "Spin exchange optical pumping at pressures near 1 bar for neutron spin filters" (2002). Hamilton Digital Commons.
https://digitalcommons.hamilton.edu/articles/46
Hamilton Areas of Study
Physics