Umbesetzung der 2S 1/2-Hyperfeinstrukturniveaus im metastabilen Deuteriumatomstrahl einer Lambshift-Quelle durch Anwendung von statischen Magnetfeldern

Polarized deuteron beams may be obtained from metastable atomic beams by quenching three of the six hyperfinestructure levels. Using a field distribution which crosses zero on the beam axis the occupation numbers of the hyperfinestructure levels may be changed by a nonadiabatic process. The special conditions for this magnetic field are discussed by comparing the corresponding Larmor frequency of the metastable atoms with the angular frequency of the magnetic field vector. Experimental investigations were carried out for field gradients between 1.9 and 5.4 Oe/cm and for superposed homogeneous transverse fields of up to 6 Oe. With deuterons a tensorpolarization ofP ₃₃=?0.70±0.01 was obtained at a negative ion beam current of 42 nA.