Ultra-sensitive magnetometry based on free precession of nuclear spins

We discuss the design and performance of a very sensitive low-field magnetometer based on the detection of free spin precession of gaseous, nuclear polarized ³He or ¹²⁹Xe samples with a SQUID as magnetic flux detector. The device will be employed to control fluctuating magnetic fields and gradients in a new experiment searching for a permanent electric dipole moment of the neutron. Furthermore, with the detection of the free precession of co-located ³He/¹²⁹Xe nuclear spins it can be used as ultra-sensitive probe for non-magnetic spin interactions, since the magnetic dipole interaction (Zeeman-term) drops out. Characteristic spin precession times T₂ ^* of up to 60 h were measured. The achieved signal-to-noise ratio of more than 5000:1 leads to an expected sensitivity level (Cramer-Rao lower bound) of δB≈1 fT after an integration time of 220 s and of δB≈10^-4 fT after one day. By means of a co-located ³He/¹²⁹Xe magnetometer, noise sources inherent in the magnetometer could be investigated, showing that CRLB is fulfilled, at least down to δB≈10^-2 fT. The reason for such a high sensitivity is that free precessing ³He (¹²⁹Xe) nuclear spins are almost completely decoupled from the environment. Therefore, this type of magnetometer is particularly attractive for precision field measurements where long-term stability is required.     

Measurement of spin-dependent total cross-section differenceΔσ T in neutron-proton scattering at 16 MeV

A new measurement ofΔσ _T for polarized neutrons transmitted through a polarized proton target at 16.2 MeV has been made. A polarized neutron beam was produced with the³H(d, n)⁴ He reaction; proton polarization over 90% was achieved in a frozen spin target of 20 cm³ volume. The measurement yields the valueΔσ _T=(?126±21±14) mb. The result of a simple phase shift analysis for the³ S ₁?³ D ₁ mixing parameter ε₁ is presented and compared with the theoretical potential model predictions.     

Nuclear spin lattice relaxation of191m Ir in Fe

Thermal cycling of the lattice temperature was used to determine the nuclear spin lattice relaxation of^191m IrFe in polarizing fields of 0.05 to 1.3 T. At low temperatures, the relaxation time is not very much shorter than the lifetime of^191m Ir. In the first part of the paper, the master equation formalism is extended to include a finite lifetime. Our result for the reduced relaxation constant, γ² C _K =(1.48±0.11)·10¹⁴ K s^?1 T^?2 (high field limit) is in serious disagreement with that of a spin echo measurement of¹⁹³IrFe, but fits much better into the general systematics. A comparison of relaxation rates for 3d-, 4d-, and 5d-impurities in Fe is given. As a by-product, a Kapitza conductivity constant ofl _K =1.5 mW cm^?2 K^?4±30% was found between Fe and dilute³He/⁴He.     

Interactions of μAl acceptor impurity in weakly and heavily doped silicon

The interactions of the aluminum acceptor impurity in silicon are investigated using polarized negative muons. The polarization of negative muons is studied as a function of temperature on crystalline silicon samples with phosphorus (1.6×10¹³ cm^?3) and boron (4.1×10¹⁸ cm^?3) impurities. The measurements are performed in a magnetic field of 4.1 kG perpendicular to the muon spin, in the temperature range from 4 to 300 K. The experimental results show that, in phosphorus-doped n-type silicon, an _μAl acceptor center is ionized in the temperature range T>50 K. For boron-doped silicon, the temperature dependence of the shift of the muon spin precession frequency is found to deviate from the 1/T Curie law in the temperature range T ? 50 K. The interactions of a _μAl acceptor that may be responsible for the effects observed in the experiment are analyzed.     

Messung des gR-Faktors des 2+-Rotationsniveaus von Dy160 nach der Spinrotationsmethode und Bestimmung der Multipolmischungen mehrerer γ-Übergänge im Zerfall des Tb160

A differential measurement of the spin rotation of Dy¹⁶⁰ in the 2+ rotational state was performed by using liquid sources of TbCl₃ solved in 3M HCl and applying an external magnetic field of 33 500 Gauss. No change of the Larmor precession frequency could be detected within the first 10·10^?9 s. It is concluded that the ground state of the electronic shell of Dy⁺⁺⁺ is reached in 6·10^?10 s after theβ-decay of Tb¹⁶⁰. The valueg _R=+0.364±0.011 was derived using 〈r^?3〉_eff=8.92 a. u. for the 4f-shell of Dy⁺⁺⁺. A comparison with the result ofCohen who studied the Mössbauer-effect in Fe₂Dy shows that the value of 〈r^?3〉_eff must be 10% larger in this compound. A measurement of the effective magnetic field at the position of the nucleus in a source of terbium metal was performed for different temperatures. It revealed a temperature dependence which is very similar to the paramagnetic susceptibility χ(T). We observed a strong attenuation ofγ γ-angular correlations in the 2+ rotational state. For liquid sources of TbCl₃ solved in 3M HCl the following attenuation parameters were measured:

$$\begin{gathered} \lambda _2 = (0.122 \pm 0.013) \cdot 10^9 {\text{s}}^{ - {\text{1}}} , \hfill \\ \lambda _4 = (0.235 \pm 0.024) \cdot 10^9 {\text{s}}^{ - {\text{1}}} . \hfill \\ \end{gathered}$$     

Transverse beam asymmetries measured from <Superscript>4</Superscript>He and hydrogen targets

The HAPPEX Collaboration at Jefferson Lab has measured the transverse beam spin asymmetries (A_T) for elastic electron scattering from proton and ⁴He targets. The experiment was conducted using a vertically polarized electron beam of energy ∼ 3 GeV, at a Q ² ∼ 0.1 GeV^2 and a scattering angle θ_lab ∼ 6^° . The preliminary results are reported here. The ⁴He measurement is the first measurement of A_T from a nucleus. A_T for ⁴He is non-negligible; therefore, it will be necessary to make measurements of A_T for future parity-violating experiments using nuclear targets.     

Spin physics at HERMES

The primary goal of the HERMES experiment is the study of the spin structure of the nucleon. Results on the measured inclusive and semi-inclusive hadron asymmetries using a polarized positron beam on polarized ³He, hydrogen and deuterium targets are here presented. In the covered kinematic range, 0.023<x _Bj <0.6 and 1 GeV²<Q ²<10GeV² the polarized quark distribution were determined for all up (u+?u) and down (d+?) quarks, and separately for valence and sea quarks. The up quark polarization is positive, and the down quark polarization is negative. The polarization of the sea is consistent with zero in the measured range. A first indication of a positive gluon polarization is presented, based on the measured spin asymmetry in the photo-production of hadron pairs with high transverse momentum p _T . This asymmetry is negative, which is in contrast to the measured positive asymmetry for inclusive experiments.     

The sign of the magnetic moment of the first 2+ state in 20O

The measured precission of the ²⁰O(2⁺) spin in the magnetic experienced on recoiled in polarized iron implies a negative g-factor. A supplementary measurement on the ¹⁶O(3^?) state yields for the static field at oxygen in iron the limits 0 < H_static < +90 kG.     

Searches for Lorentz violation in 3He/129Xe clock comparison experiments

We discuss the design and performance of a very sensitive low-field magnetometer based on the detection of free spin precession of gaseous, nuclear polarized ³He or ¹²⁹Xe samples with a SQUID as magnetic flux detector. Characteristic spin precession times $T_2^\ast$ of up to 115 h were measured in low magnetic fields (about 1 μT) and in the regime of motional narrowing. With the detection of the free precession of co-located ³He/¹²⁹Xe nuclear spins (clock comparison), the device can be used as ultra-sensitive probe for non-magnetic spin interactions, since the magnetic dipole interaction (Zeeman-term) drops out in the weighted frequency difference, i.e., Δω?=?ω _He ???γ _He /γ _Xe ·ω _Xe . We report on searches for Lorentz violating signatures by monitoring the Larmor frequencies of co-located ³He/¹²⁹Xe spin samples as the laboratory reference frame rotates with respect to distant stars (sidereal modulation).     

Surface-NMR relaxation and echo of aquifers in geomagnetic field

Macroscopic samples of near-surface water in pores or fractures of rocks down to 100 m and deeper are studied by the measurement of proton relaxation and echo in the Earth’s magnetic field. The excitation and reception of the surface nuclear magnetic resonance (SNMR) signal is accomplished with the help of an antenna, circle or 8-shaped (for the minimization of the outer electromagnetic jamming influence), placed at the surface. The frequency of magnetic resonance in the case considered amounts to several kilohertz, the dead time of the instrumentation to several milliseconds. Water in extremely small pores of water-resisting rocks (e.g., in argillaceous grounds), is chemically bound, crystallization or frozen water has smaller times of spin relaxation and is not registered. The distribution of water concentration with depth is determined by inversion of an integral equation, including the model and measured dependences of the SNMR signal against the intensity of excitation. The current state of the art of the SNMR sounding and perspectives of this method on the basis of free induction decay and spin echo detection and relaxation times measurement are presented. Free induction decayT ₂ ^* equal to 60 ms, spin-echoT ₂ equal to 220 ms, and inversion-recoveryT ₁ equal to 700 ms relaxation times have been measured for medium-to coarse-grained sand aquifer. Microscopic characteristics of the aquifer — longitudinal relaxivity (7·10^?3 cm/s), transverse relaxivity (3.5·10^?2 cm/s), and local magnetic field gradient (2·10^?2 G/cm) — have been estimated from experimental data. The importance of spin relaxation and echo measurements for obtaining the information about the microstructure of pores and fractures, as well as filtration, properties of aquifers and diamagnetic, paramagnetic and hydrocarbon contamination, is emphasized.     

Charge symmetrical pairing correlations for Even-Even nuclei withN=Z

The temperature dependence of the critical heat currentQ _c in He II has been measured in the temperature region 3 · 10^?5 (?K)<T _λ?T<1.2 · 10^?2 (?K). The result Q_c∫ (T _λ?T)^1.07±0.01is consistent with a divergent mutual friction nearT _λ proposed recently byAhlers.     

Untersuchung der Polarisationsebene von Photonen nach Compton-Streuung an polarisierten Elektronen

Two polarization phenomena in Compton scattering by polarized electrons were investigated. In the first experiment, the rotation of the polarization plane of photons passing through magnetized iron and gadolinium was measured. This effect arises from a spin dependence of the Compton forward scattering amplitude. For 228 and 333 keV photons and iron absorbers, the observed rotation angles areφ ₀=(3.90±0.57) ×10^?3 rad · cm^?2 and (4.75±0.58)×10^?3 rad · cm^?2, respectively. Secondly, the orientation of the photon polarization plane after scattering of unpolarized photons by polarized electrons was measured. This experiment tests time reversal invariance in quantum electrodynamics. No dependence of the polarization plane on the direction of the electron spin was found within 2×10^?3.     

Anomalous magnetism and 209Bi nuclear spin relaxation in Bi4Ge3O12 crystals

The quadrupole ²⁰⁹Bi spin–spin and spin–lattice relaxation were studied within 4.2–300 K for pure and doped Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂ single crystals which exhibit, as was previously found, anomalous magnetic properties. The results revealed an unexpectedly strong influence of minor amounts of paramagnetic dopants (0.015–0.5 mol.%) on the relaxation processes. Various mechanisms (quadrupole, crystal electric field, electron spin fluctuations) govern the spin–lattice relaxation time T ₁ in pure and doped samples. Unlike T ₁, the spin–spin relaxation time T ₂ for pure and Nd-doped samples was weakly dependent on temperature within 4.2–300 K. Doping Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂ with paramagnetic atoms strongly elongated T ₂. The elongation, although not so strong, was also observed for pure and doped crystals under the influence of weak (～30 Oe) external magnetic fields. To confirm the conclusion about strong influence of crystal field effects on the temperature dependence of T ₁ in the temperature range 4.2–77 K, the magnetization vs. temperature and magnetic field was measured for Nd- and Gd-doped Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂ crystals using a SQUID magnetometer. The temperature behavior of magnetic susceptibility for the Nd-doped crystal was consistent with the presence of the crystal electric field effects. For the Gd-doped crystal, the Brillouin formula perfectly fitted the curve of magnetization vs. magnetic field, which pointed to the absence of the crystal electric field contribution into the spin–lattice relaxation process in this sample.     

A nuclear-spin based rotation sensor using optical polarization and detection methods

We describe a rotation sensor that is based on the detection of the nuclear magnetic resonance signal of¹²⁹Xe in the gas phase. Under rotation shifts of the signal phase and Larmor frequency occur, which can be used to determine orientational angle variations with an accuracy of about 1^o and rotation rates of 0.4 mHz to 5 Hz with a precision of 0.4 mHz during the measurement time, which is of the order of 3×T ₂, the nuclear spin relaxation time. The nuclear spin species is polarized by spin-exchange collisions with optically pumped ground-state spins of Rb-gas atoms. The Rb atoms also present in the sample are used as a magnetometer to probe the free-induction decay of the nuclear spin ensemble. Polarization, detection, and data processing sheemes are described in detail and the current sensitivity and limitations of this Stuttgart nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gyroscope are discussed. Possibilities for further improvements are pointed out.     

Optimised adiabatic fast passage spin flipping for He neutron spin filters

We describe here a method of performing adiabatic fast passage (AFP) spin flipping of polarized ³He used as a neutron spin filter (NSF) to polarize neutron beams. By reversing the spin states of the ³He nuclei the polarization of a neutron beam can be efficiently reversed allowing for the transmission of a neutron beam polarized in either spin state. Using an amplitude modulated frequency sweep lasting 500 ms we can spin flip a polarized ³He neutron spin filter with only 1.8×10⁻⁵ loss in ³He polarization. The small magnetic fields (10-15 G) used to house neutron spin filters mean the ³He resonant frequencies are low enough to be generated using a computer with a digital I/O card. The versatility of this systems allows AFP to be performed on any beamline or in any laboratory using ³He neutron spin filters and polarization losses can be minimised by adjusting sweep parameters.     

Spin conversion detected by Mössbauer spectroscopy and μSR on a 1D FeII paramagnetic chain

While magnetic properties of the 1D chain [Fe(hyetrz)₃](4-bromophenylsulfonate)₂ investigated over the temperature range from 300 K to 2 K show paramagnetic behavior, detailed ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer and muon spin relaxation measurements reveal an unexpected spin conversion. Approximately ~14 % of the high-spin ions are found to convert to the low-spin state with a transition temperature T _1/2?~?120 K.     

High-field magnetoresistance of polycrystalline ZrZn2

We report magnetoresistance measurements of polycrystalline ZrZn₂ as a function of temperature (4.2–48K) and magnetic field up to 19 T. The results indicate the presence of both positive and negative contributions to the magnetoresistance. The latter is due to spin fluctuations. Below T_c the resistivity varies with temperature like T² over the entire field range (0–19 T). The coefficient of the T² -term decreases with increasing field and fits a $\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?</mtext><mtext>1</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}$ dependence above ～ 10 T, in accordance with theoretical predictions. Complex behaviour of the magnetoresistance is found in the paramagnetic regime above ～ 5 T.     

Improving results on transverse double spin asymmetries in the CNI region at STAR

Double spin effects in polarized pp-elastic scattering in the Coulomb nuclear interference (CNI) region are sensitive to small contributions to the nuclear amplitude in addition to Pomeron exchange dominating at high energies. Measurements of double spin asymmetries require external luminosity normalization using collision counts for all spin combinations. Several possible sources of such data from various STAR subsystems were thoroughly analyzed to make the best choice. BBC arrays were found to be free of double spin effects to the level of ～ 2 × 10^?4 thus leading to the systematic uncertainty ～10^?3 in the value of (A _NN + A _SS )/2.     

Dynamics of the infinite-range ising spin glass

The Glauber dynamics of an Ising spin glass with infinite-range interactions and additional static field, h, is investigated near the freezing temperature, T_f. We obtain critical slowing down at and below the de Almeida-Thouless instability line, h_c(T), to order (1?T/T_f)³ with algebraic decay of the spin correlations ～t^?ν, where $\text{ν=}\text{1}\text{2}$ at T_f and $\text{ν≤}\text{1}\text{2}$ for T<T_f.     

129Xe NMR – highly polarized thin films

We studied the macroscopic effects of nuclear magnetization. Highly polarized xenon is often used to increase the sensitivity in NMR investigations of porous media, diluted liquids or for imaging in the gas phase. In the condensed phase, however, highly nuclear spin polarized xenon also possesses a sizable magnetization due to the nuclear spin density. This results in an additional magnetic field, that is used to measure the polarization of the sample, when only the particle density is known. Here we find P_z≈0.8 corresponding to a spin temperature of 0.5 mK. We use isotopically enriched xenon with a ¹²⁹Xe abundance of 0.71. At high abundance of ¹²⁹Xe and high nuclear polarization the dipolar linewidth is considerably reduced. We find for small angle excitation a reduction from 650 Hz to 400 Hz. We investigate this using a thin film geometry. The susceptibility effects of the substrate and the Xe film are treated. The macroscopic angle between the normal of the film and the external field strongly changes the polarization induced line shift and line width. The first follows an expected cos²θ dependence with an understood amplitude the latter however is not understood up to now. Relaxation of ¹²⁹Xe in the condensed film is observed to be T₁=15±1.8 min, much faster than expected. To cite this article: P. Gerhard et al., C. R. Physique 5 (2004).