Polarization Issues
AbstractThe study of spin dynamics in synchrotrons has evolved over the years as has the desire for achieving polarized particle beams of the highest possible beam energies. A selection of reviews of the dynamics of polarized beams may be found in [1]–[9]. In this chapter, we focus on experimental data and describe spin transport in circular accelerators and transport lines. Except where explicitly mentioned, radiative effects in electron accelerators or very high energy proton accelerators are not treated here. We begin with a review of the Thomas-BMT equation for spin motion. This will be given in terms of the SU(2) spinor representation. Spinor algebra will be introduced and applied in the description of techniques used for preserving the beam polarization during acceleration through depolarizing resonances at moderate beam energies.