Optically pumped polarized ion sources

Since the research program at TUNL has long had the study of polarization phenomena as a central part, it seemed natural to keep aware and involved with some recent developments in polarized source technology. With this in mind, the authors pursued a feasibility study of optically pumped polarized ion sources for the sort of research done at TUNL. This has led to some theoretical investigations of the phenomenon of radiation trapping, an atomic physics effect which is one of the least understood and most limiting processes in these sources