Development of a Polarized He3 Ion Source for RHIC
POSTER
Abstract
A polarized $^3$He beam in RHIC would enable new, unique, high-energy QCD studies of neutron structure with existing polarized proton beams, as well as important tests of the standard model in a future electron-ion collider (eRHIC). A new polarized $^3$He ion source using the Electron Beam Ionization Source (EBIS) at BNL is under development. $^3$He atoms are first polarized using metastability exchange optical pumping (MEOP) and then transferred to EBIS. Fully stripped $^3$He$^{++}$ ions would be extracted from EBIS and their polarization measured at low energies before acceleration in RHIC.
*Research supported by DOE Office of Nuclear Physics.