Polarization in heavy-ion reactions

A series of experiments is described in which beta-ray asymmetry has been used to determine polarization of heavy-ion reaction products¹²B and the present status of the studies of polarization phenomena in heavy-ion reactions is reviewed. A large amount of angular momentum sustained by the two colliding nuclei gives rise to polarization phenomena of reaction products. Coupling between the degrees of freedom accompanying the intrinsic and the relative motions is investigated from the systematic behaviour of polarization of reaction products disclosed by the experiments.