Polarization transfer in deuteron stripping reactions

Polarization phenomena involving the spins of a and b in the A(a, b)B reaction are discussed using a complete set of irreducible tensors carrying definite spin transfer. The linear model independent equations relating the cross section and the polarization observables with these tensors are shown to be particularly appropriate for the study of spin dependent interactions, preferentially associated with particular values of spin transfer. The DWBA theory of polarization transfer in deuteron stripping reactions is thoroughly discussed and among the 17 polarization observables we distinguish those likely to be more sensitive to spin dependent distortion, to have stronger deuteron D-state effects, to exhibit the sign-rule j-dependence and other forms of j-dependence. For certain deuteron polarizations, when the spin transfer is pure $\text{s =}\text{1}\text{2}$, it is shown that deuteron stripping reactions are transparent to vector polarization transfer and the outgoing nucléon polarization independent of scattering angle and deuteron energy. DWBA calculations including contributions from spin transfer $\text{3}\text{2}$ through the deuteron D-state and spin-orbit distortion show that polarization transfer in such deuteron polarizations can be explored as a method of producing fast polarized neutrons with known polarization.