9726767 Happer This award supports a three year collaborative research project between Professor William Happer of Princeton University and Professor Tsutomu Yabuzaki of Kyoto University in Japan. The researchers will be undertaking studies relating to new applications for laser optical pumping of high density, low temperature gases. The objectives of the research are: (1) to undertake a complete detailed characterization of optical pumping in low temperature cells, coated with superfluid He. and (2) to develop an experiment to measure the electric dipole moment (EDM) of atomic Cs in a superfluid He coated cell. This project brings together the efforts of two laboratories that have complementary expertise, research capabilities and equipment. The collaboration will unite the experimental and theoretical expertise in laser optical pumping and spin exchange at Princeton with the cryogenic techniques developed at Kyoto University. The Japanese collaborator is a world leader in the manipulation of alkali metal vapors in cryogenic cells. The research should provide insight into the validity of current theoretical models of optical pumping and possibly help ameliorate some of the disagreements between theory and experiments that currently exist. Through the exchange of ideas and technology, this project will broaden our base of basic knowledge and promote international understanding and cooperation.
