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Depolarization of fast particles travelling through matter

Journal Article · · Sov. J. Nucl. Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)
OSTI ID:6478225
A relation is found between the depolarization of charged particles which have passed through a matter layer and the mean square angle of multiple Coulomb scattering. Simple formulae are obtained describing the degree of depolarization of charged and neutral particles. It is shown that for transversely polarized particles the depolarization effect is a factor of 2 smaller than for longitudinally polarized particles under equal conditions. The degree of depolarization of ..mu.. mesons decelerating in matter is calculated. At nonrelativistic velocities the depolarization of ..mu.. mesons is proportional to their range and is very small regardless of the medium. At the same time for incident momenta p>1 GeV/c the degree of depolarization for ..mu.. mesons travelling in media with large Z and losing their energy by ionization reaches a noticeable magnitude, approx.10%.
Research Organization:
Joint Institute for Nuclear Research
OSTI ID:
6478225
Journal Information:
Sov. J. Nucl. Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Sov. J. Nucl. Phys. (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 32:3; ISSN SJNCA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English