Spin Physics with Photons — Technical Highlights and Spin-Offs

The spin, as a fundamental property of a particle, has been a main object of investigation in particle and nuclear physics research in recent decades. For complete spin investigation, one requires a polarized target in addition to polarized beams and a recoil polarimeter. The advent of advanced beam and large acceptance detector technologies has driven the development of highly polarized, full angular acceptance targets. The Crystal Ball detector with its unique capability to cope with multi photon final states is used in Mainz at the A2 real photon facility in combination with a frozen spin polarized target. Technical highlights from the development of thin superconducting magnets to provide a longitudinal and transverse polarization are presented. A continuous polarization in the ‘DNP’-mode is on the way. Another promising technology investigation is going in the direction of ‘Active Polarized Targets’ to use the target as an intrinsic part of the detector. This requires from the scintillating material and front-end electronics to operate at cryogenic temperatures.