Polarization at SLAC

A highly polarized electron beam is a key feature for the current physics program at SLAC. An electron beam polarization of 80% can now be routinely achieved for typically 5000 hours of machine operation per year. Two main physics programs utilize the polarized beam. Fixed target experiments in End Station A study the collision of polarized electrons with polarized nuclear targets to elucidate the spin structure of the nucleon and to provide an important test of QCD. Using the SLAC Linear Collider, collisions of polarized electrons with unpolarized positrons allow precise measurements of parity violation in the Z fermion couplings and provide a very precise measurement of the weak mixing angle. This paper discusses polarized beam operation at SLAC, and gives an overview of the polarized physics program. copyright 1995 American Institute of Physics