Abstract
Optical measurements of the nuclear polarizationM of an optically pumped pure3He gas have been performed. They consist in monitoring the circular polarization of various helium lines emitted by the discharge. We have demonstrated the possibility to use the orange line (587.5 nm) to measureM and we have calibrated this technique over the pressure range 0.4–6.5 Torr. The circular polarization of the light has been analyzed using a new device which includes a static polarimeter and photodiodes as light sensors. The intensity of the discharge was modulated and the detection was made at the frequency of modulation.
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Details on the electronics, and especially on the low noise current to voltage conversion will be given in E. Stoltz, PhD thesis, and will be mailed on request
The polarimeter imperfections essentially arise from its optical elements. In addition to the inaccurate retardation of the quarter-wave plate, one must take into account the fact that the transmission of the polarizing cube does not exceed 95%. Therefore, a non-negligible contribution of the orthogonal polarization is found in the reflected beam. All (small) defects can be accounted for using a simple model, leading to a scaling factor E. Details on this model, and on the method we have used to measure the various defects, will be given in E. Stoltz, PhD thesis, and will be mailed on request.
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Laboratoire associé au Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et a l'Université P. M. Curie