Polarization detection of trapped electrons via interaction with polarized atoms

Electrons were trapped in an electrostatic quadrupole trap with superimposed homogeneous magnetic field. The electrons were polarized by spin exchange with a polarized atomic beam. The free trapped electron polarization was converted to a change in the electron translational energy via spin-dependent inelastic collisions with the atomic beam, and the electron translational temperature was monitored. Discussed are the development of this variation of the measurement technique, characteristics of electron storage, and the electron-polarized atom inelastic interaction as a function of electron temperature and time. The method has been applied to the detection of the (g-2) resonance of free, stored electrons.