Polarized deuteron target in an electron storage ring: Measurements and perspectives

A gas jet of polarized deuterium atoms with a thickness of 2×1011 cm−2 has been used as an internal target in the VEPP‐3 electron storage ring with 2 GeV energy. Source characteristics as well as experimental conditions and results on elastic and inelastic scattering are reviewed.Results of experimental studies and calculations of jet depolarization induced by an electron beam are discussed. For the first time a storage cell for polarized atoms was used in the storage ring in order to increase the target thickness. Depolarization of atoms inside the cell due to wall collisions with a drifilm surace and a magnetic field is proved to be small whereas depolarization due to the transitional magnetic field of the electron beam at 2 GeV energy can be significant.Conditions for small depolarization by the electron beam were found. An effective target polarization in the storage cell was found to be Peffzz=0.8±0.2.