Journal Article/Contribution to a conference proceedings/Contribution to a book

GSI-2026-00864

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Current developments of polarized sources andpolarimeter at FZ Jülich and further applications

Engels, R. (Corresponding author)GSI* ; Kannis, C. ; Salmann, J. M.GSI* ; Faatz, N.GSI* ; Pütz, S. J.GSI* ; El-Kordy, T. ; Verhoeven, V.GSI*

2026
SISSA Trieste

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.22323/1.517.0173  doi:10.15120/GSI-2026-00864

Abstract: A new theoretical concept of the quantum mechanical processes in spin filter for the separation ofmetastable hydrogen atoms in individual hyperfine substates enables a number of new applications.For example, it is now possible to build a new generation of Lamb-shift polarimeter that canseparate not only 𝛼 but also the 𝛽 substates with mJ=−1/2. This opens up completely newpossibilities for the search of hydrogen atoms in forbidden substates after the bound beta decayof the neutron. At the same time, corresponding simulations also provide the parameters fordesigning a Lamb-shift polarimeter for 3He+ ions. Furthermore, it has recently been shown thatclassical Lamb-shift polarimeter can determine the polarization, in addition to protons/deuteronsand 𝐻/𝐷 atoms, of H2/D2 molecules as well as all possible ion beam species, i.e. H+2/D+2/HD+,H−/D− or even H+3.In parallel, this knowledge might help to create a new type of optically pumped polarized sourceby transferring a laser-induced polarization of the rotational magnetic moment to the nucleons inH2/D2 and HD molecules. These techniques might also be used for the production and detectionof polarized fuel for the enhancement of the energy output of nuclear fusion reactors or theproduction of hyper-polarized probes in medicine.A recent application was a proof-of-principle measurement of the polarization conservation in H2molecules after recombination of polarized atoms in a carbon-coated storage cell, similar to thecell that is foreseen for a planned polarized target at the LHCb experiment. In addition, in somemore exotic experiments the components of a Lamb-shift polarimeter can be used to detect axionsor “dark hydrogen”.

Note: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. FAIR Forschung NRW (FFN)

Research Program(s):

1. 612 - Cosmic Matter in the Laboratory (POF4-612) (POF4-612)

Experiment(s):

1. External experiment at external facility/ no experiment at GSI (other)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

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