Sources for Negative Polarized Heavy Ions

A source for polarized lithium ions is described which uses the atomic beam principle. The polarized atoms are surface ionized to positive ions on a hot oxidized tungsten ribbon and then converted to negative ions in potassium vapour. Measurements on source parameters are discussed. The method of ionizing a polarized atomic beam by a surface can be extended to the other alkalides and probably to some other ions. A method of producing a polarized halogen beam using surface ionization to negative ions is proposed.