The ability to polarize 3He nuclei provides a effective polarized neutron target most of the spin of the 3He nucleus comes from the spin of the neutron. The advent of high-density, high-polarization 3He targets opens up many possibilities in the study of the spin structure of nucleons and nuclei.
The basic ingredients for a polarized target are a glass cell filled with high density 3He and N2 gases, K and Rb alkali metals, and high-intensity, narrow-linewidth lasers. These cells are known as hyperpolarized hybrid SEOP targets and are primarily used at Jefferson Lab in Newport News, VA. In addition to cell production we polarize and characterize the target cells and study the dynamics of the polarization process to improve the polarization and the uncertainty in its measurement.
Our collaboration uses these targets for studies of the substructure of neutrons in electron scattering experiments at Jefferson Lab. The main mission of Jefferson Lab is nuclear physics research at the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF). CEBAF, based on super-conducting radio-frequency (SRF) accelerating technology, is the world’s most advanced particle accelerator for investigating the quark structure of the atom’s nucleus – research that will lead to a better understanding of how quarks and gluons ultimately make up the nucleus of atoms and the forces that hold matter together.