Polarized He-3 neutron spin filter development and application at Indiana University and NIST

Neutron spin filters based on polarized He-3 promise to significantly expan d the range of applications of polarized neutron scattering, particularly f or experiments with divergent beams. At NIST and at Indiana University, we are pursuing both methods of polarizing He-3 by optical pumping: the metast ability exchange method, and spin exchange with optically pumped Rb. The st atus of the respective apparatus and application to small angle neutron sca ttering (SANS) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and neutron reflectometry at the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS) at A rgonne National Laboratory are discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. Al l rights reserved.