This thesis describes a precision measurement of the neutron spin dependent structure function, g r ( x ) . The measurement was made by the E154 collaboration at SLAC using a longitudinally polarized, 48.3 GeV electron beam, and a 3He target polarized by spin exchange with optically pumped rubidium. A target polarization as high as 50% was achieved. The elements of the experiment which pertain to the polarized 3He target will be described in detail in this thesis. To achieve a precision

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... ent, it has been necessary to minimize the systematic error from the uncertainty in the target parameters. All of the parameters of the target have been carefully measured, and the most important parameters of the target have been measured using multiple techniques. The polarization of the target was measured using nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, and has been calibrated using both proton NMR and by measuring the shift of the Rb Zeeman resonance frequency due t o the 3He polarization. The fraction of events which originated in the 3He, as measured by the spectrometers, has been determined using a physical model of the target and the spectrometers. It was also measured during the experiment using a variable pressure 3He reference cell in place of the polarized 3He target. " . The spin dependent structure function g;"(z) was measured in the Bjorken 2 range of 0.014 < 2 < 0.7 with an average Q2 of 5 (GeV/c)2. One of the primary motivations for this experiment was t o test the Bjorken sum rule. Because the experiment had smaller statistical errors and a broader kinematic coverage than previous experiments, the behavior of the spin structure function g;(z) could be studied in detail at low values of the Bjorken scaling variable 5 . It was found that g;"(x) has a strongly divergent behavior at low values of 2, calling into question the methods commonly used t o extrapolate the value of g;(z) t o low 2. The precision of the measurement made by the E154 collaboration at SLAC puts a tighter constraint on the extrapolation of g;"(x) t o low 2, which is necessary t o evaluate the Bjorken sum rule. T . First and foremost, I would like to begin by thanking my advisor, Timothy Chupp, who provided me with the support and encouragement necessary to complete a doctoral dissertation. I thank him for reminding me of what is important and for asking me the hard questions. I also thank him for his help and guidance, and for being an ideal role model throughout the graduate experience. I would like to thank the members of my committee for taking the time to read my thesis and correct the manuscript, and in Bob Lewis' case, for loaning me his office so that I might have a quiet place to work. I would also like to thank Kevin Coulter and Robert Welsh for all of their help in writing the thesis and in analyzing the data. It is possible Robert that you have convinced me that I do not hate Unix. This experiment at SLAG was part of a rich program of spin physics which I have had the pleasure of being a part of since 1992. The collaborative effort of many physicists, all of whom cannot be mentioned here. I would like to thank our spokesman, Emlyn Hughes. My experience at SLAG would not have been the same without his enthusiasm and support. After all, if the target wasn't working, it was Emlyn who got t o explain it to Burton Richter and David Leith. This experiment would not have been possible without all of the hard work and dedication of my fellow graduate students. Many thanks to