The Spin Structure of the Neutron Determined Using a Polarized He-3 Target
- SLAC
Described is a study of the internal spin structure of the neutron performed by measuring the asymmetry in spin-dependent deep inelastic scattering of polarized electrons from nuclear polarized {sup 3}He. Stanford Linear Accelerator experiment E142's sample of 400 million scattering events collected at beam energies between 19 and 26 GeV led to the most precise measurement of a nucleon spin structure function to date. The {sup 3}He target represents a major advance in polarized target technology, using the technique of spin exchange with optically pumped rubidium vapor to produce a typical {sup 3}He nuclear polarization of 34% in a 30cm long target cell with a gas density of 2.3 x 10{sup 20} cm{sup -3}. The target polarization was measured to {+-}7% using an Adiabatic Fast Passage NMR system calibrated with the thermal equilibrium polarization of the protons in a sample of water. The relatively high polarization and target thickness were the result of the development of large volume glass target cells which had inherent nuclear spin relaxation times for the {sup 3}He gas of as long as 70 hours. A target cell production procedure is presented which focuses on special glass blowing techniques to minimize surface interactions with the {sup 3}He nuclei and careful gas purification and vacuum system procedures to reduce relaxation inducing impurities.
- Research Organization:
- Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, Menlo Park, CA (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00515;
- OSTI ID:
- 826674
- Report Number(s):
- SLAC-R-700
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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