Spin manipulation and nuclear polarization enhancement in particle beams with static magnetic fields

TL;DR

This theoretical study explores how static, spatially varying magnetic fields can manipulate spins and enhance nuclear polarization in various particle beams, with potential applications in atomic and molecular physics.

Contribution

It introduces a computational framework for analyzing spin dynamics in non-relativistic beams under sinusoidal magnetic fields, demonstrating polarization enhancement mechanisms.

Findings

Magnetic fields can significantly increase nuclear polarization in atomic and molecular beams.

Transitions within hyperfine regimes are responsible for polarization enhancement.

The effects are observed across a wide frequency range from GHz to hundreds of kHz.

Abstract

A theoretical study of spin dynamics in non-relativistic particle beams with interacting angular momenta traversing static, spatially varying magnetic fields is presented. The computational framework evaluates sinusoidal magnetic field configurations, calculating key observables such as average spin projections and state populations during the interaction. It is demonstrated that such fields can effectively enhance nuclear polarization in partially, incoherently polarized hydrogen and deuterium atomic beams, as well as coherently rotationally state-selected hydrogen deuteride molecular beams. This enhancement is attributed to transitions induced within the hyperfine regime of these systems. The study spans frequency ranges from GHz scales for atoms to hundreds of kHz for molecules, corresponding to magnetic field variations on spatial scales from submillimeters to meters.