Macroscopic production of spin-polarised hydrogen atoms from the IR-excitation and photodissociation of molecular beams

We describe methods for the production of spin-polarised H and D atoms from the IR-excitation and photodissociation of molecular beams of HBr, HI, and NH3 isotopes, including optical excitation schemes with partial hyperfine resolution. We discuss the extent to which the production rates may approach the IR-laser production rates of 10(21) photons s(-1), and how the production rates of conventional methods of similar to 10(17) s(-1) may be surpassed significantly. [GRAPHICS] .