Applicability of Sona transition unit polarization to ground‑state atoms or molecules

Determine whether the Sona transition unit method, demonstrated to produce large nuclear polarization in metastable hydrogen atoms, can be applied to ground‑state hydrogen atoms or molecules to create polarized targets for laser‑plasma acceleration.

Background

Preliminary data indicate that Sona transition units can generate large nuclear polarizations in metastable hydrogen. If extendable to ground‑state atoms or molecules, this method could provide robust polarized targets for laser‑plasma accelerators without relying on metastable species. The feasibility of such an extension remains unresolved.