Spin dependent electron scattering with the BLAST detector

The Bates Large Acceptance Spectrometer Toroid (BLAST) is a detector designed to study in a comprehensive and precise way the spin dependent electromagnetic response of few-body nuclei. The BLAST scientific program is focussed on the study of these systems in terms of nucleon structure, the ground state few body structure built from the nucleon-nucleon interaction and the nature of the interaction of the virtual photon for Q(2) <= 1 (GeV/c)(2). To accomplish its scientific goals, BLAST utilizes the latest technology available in the form of polarized electron scattering from pure, polarized internal gas targets. The Bates South Hall Ring (SHR) delivers longitudinally polarized electrons at the location of the BLAST detector. Measurements are currently underway, and a brief status report is presented here.