A sapphire cell was used to obtain a high He3 nuclear polarization by means of spin-exchange optical pumping. The phase-shift difference between ordinary and extraordinary rays is well controlled using the thickness of the birefringent sapphire window so that a high circular polarization is obtained in the cell. Neutron transmission through the polarized He3 gas was measured as a function of neutron energy. A large He3 polarization of 63±1% was obtained at a He3 pressure of 3.1 atm. Neutron polarizations of 97 and 90 % were obtained with transmission rates of 15 and 22 % at 10 and 20 meV, respectively.

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