Date Thesis Awarded

5-2023

Access Type

Honors Thesis -- Open Access

Degree Name

Bachelors of Science (BS)

Department

Physics

Advisor

Todd Averett

Committee Members

Keith Griffioen

Beverly Sher

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at William & Mary to study how alkali polarization varies spatially in a spherical cell during the process of optical pumping. Similar cells are used to study the neutron via electron scattering from polarized 3He nuclei, and those experiments could be improved if alkali polarization is maximized and uniformly distributed throughout the cell. The results of this experiment indicate that the alkali polarization is non-uniform and more heavily concentrated on the side of the cell facing the pump laser.

Recommended Citation

Vannell, Lauren, "Spatial Variability of Alkali-metal Polarization" (2023). Undergraduate Honors Theses. William & Mary. Paper 2052.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/honorstheses/2052