Laser induced change in nuclear reaction rate: sup 6 Li(alpha, gamma) sup (10) B.

Optically pumped atomic vapors have been proposed as polarized targets for enhancing nuclear reaction rates in thermonuclear fusion reactors, for polarization sensitive nuclear reaction studies in high energy storage rings and for study of parity nonconservation in the strong interaction. Previous experiments have inferred nuclear polarization from atomic (optical) measurements. In this paper, we report the first use of an optically pumped target in a nuclear reaction, alpha fusion with sup 6 Li. A large change (25%) in reaction cross section relative to an unpolarized target was observed. Prospects for using this target to study parity nonconservation in the strong interaction are also considered.