6533b836fe1ef96bd12a1305
RESEARCH PRODUCT
He-3 spin filter for neutrons
Martin WolfWerner HeilM BatzD. RudersdorfY. SobolevErnst W. OttenS. BaeßlerJörg Schmiedeskampsubject
Optical pumpingNuclear physicsPhysicsMetastabilityNuclear TheoryMechanical compressionThermalGeneral EngineeringNeutronSpallationSpin filterNuclear ExperimentPolarization (waves)description
The strongly spin-dependent absorption of neutrons in nuclear spin-polarized (3)He opens up the possibility of polarizing neutrons from reactors and spallation sources over the full kinematical range of cold, thermal and hot neutrons. This paper gives a report on the neutron spin filter (NSF) development program at Mainz. The polarization technique is based on direct optical pumping of metastable (3)He atoms combined with a polarization preserving mechanical compression of the gas up to a pressure of several bar, necessary to run a NSF. The concept of a remote type of operation using detachable NSF cells is presented which requires long nuclear spin relaxation times of order 100 hours. A short survey of their use under experimental conditions, e.g. large solid-angle polarization analysis, is given. In neutron particle physics NSFs are used in precision measurements to test fundamental symmetry concepts.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-05-01 | Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology |