Evidence for Nuclear Tensor Polarization of Deuterium Molecules in Storage Cells

Deuterium molecules were obtained by recombination, on a copper surface, of deuterium atoms prepared in specific hyperfine states. The molecules were stored for about 5 ms in an open-ended cylindrical cell, placed in a 23 mT magnetic field, and their tensor polarization was measured by elastic scattering of 704 MeV electrons. The results of the measurements are consistent with the deuterium molecules retaining the tensor polarization of the initial atoms.