title: Intense source of spin-polarized electrons.
abstract: Spin angular momentum conservation in chemiionization reactions involving optically oriented He(2(3)S) atoms in a flowing helium afterglow has been exploited to yield a source of spin-polarized electrons. Either transversely or longitudinally polarized electrons can be extracted. Polarized electron beam currents of approximately 2 muA have been realized at 40% polarization. The beam has an effective emittance of approximately 2 mrad/cm over the energy range 100-400 eV, an energy spread of less, similar0.15 eV, and the polarization is readily reversible. The source is relatively inexpensive and appears suitable for the majority of low-energy spin-dependent scattering experiments proposed to date.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77001.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Hodge
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Dunning
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Walters