First use of a laser-driven polarized H/D target at the IUCF cooler

The HERMES Laser-Driven Target Task Force (Argonne, Erlangen, Illinois and Colorado) is charged with developing a polarized H/D target for use in the HERA ring at DESY. Rapid progress was made in the beginning of 1996, leading us to the decision to test the target in a realistic experimental environment. In particular, polarizations of 0.6 and flows above 1018 atoms⋅s−1 have been achieved on the bench. The laser-driven target and a simple detector system are currently installed in Cooler storage ring at the Indiana University Cyclotron Facility in order to test its applicability to nuclear physics experiments. Target polarizations are being measured using the H(p,p) and D(p,p) reactions. Initial tests were reasonably successful and the target is well along toward becoming viable for nuclear physics.