Polarized heavy ion beams - a seven year old tool in nuclear physics

A short review of experimental results obtained with polarized 6Li and 7Li beams is given. It is shown that polarization effects are dominated by quadrupole forces, provided either by the (spectroscopic) quadrupole moment of the projectiles or by coupling to their excited states. These mechanisms are not specific for Li projectiles and must be expected for other heavy ions as well. (author)