Fast nuclear spin relaxation in hyperpolarized solid 129Xe

We report extensive new measurements of the longitudinal relaxation time T1 of 129Xe nuclear spins in solid xenon. For temperatures T<120 K and magnetic fields B>0.05 T, we found T1 on the order of hours, in good agreement with previous measurements and with the predicted phonon-scattering limit for the spin-rotation interaction. For T>120 K, our new data show that T1 can be much shorter than the phonon scattering limit. For B = 0.06 T, a field often used to accumulate hyperpolarized xenon, T1 is approximately 6 s near the Xe melting point T(m) = 161.4 K. From T = 50 K to T(m), the new data are in excellent agreement with the theoretical prediction that the relaxation is due to (i) modulation of the spin-rotation interaction by phonons, and (ii) modulation of the dipole-dipole interaction by vacancy diffusion.     

Nuclear spin relaxation of Xe in liquid Te

By the method of time differential perturbed angular distribution following a nuclear reaction, the relaxation rateT _r ^?1 of the 8 msI ^π=10⁺ isomer of¹³²Xe has been measured in liquid Te. Between 670 °K (supercooled liquid) and 1,000 °K the rate decreases from about 720/s by about a factor of two. From existing experimental material it is concluded thatT _r ^?1 is mainly due to quadrupolar interaction (T _r ^?1 ≈T _Q ^?1 ). Its magnitude is discussed considering the metallic and the noble gas limit as models for the Xe-Te-interactions. The temperature dependenceT _Q(T) apparently does not correlate with the diffusion constant of Te in contrast to a simplified theoretical treatment. — The nuclearg value of the isomer has been determined to be g=(?)0.195(5) thus confirming the configuration (vh_11/2)².     

Nuclear spin relaxation of Xe in liquid Te

By the method of time differential perturbed angular distribution following a nuclear reaction, the relaxation rateT _r ^–1 of the 8 msI =10⁺ isomer of¹³²Xe has been measured in liquid Te. Between 670 °K (supercooled liquid) and 1,000 °K the rate decreases from about 720/s by about a factor of two. From existing experimental material it is concluded thatT _r ^–1 is mainly due to quadrupolar interaction (T _r ^–1 T _Q ^–1 ). Its magnitude is discussed considering the metallic and the noble gas limit as models for the Xe-Te-interactions. The temperature dependenceT _Q(T) apparently does not correlate with the diffusion constant of Te in contrast to a simplified theoretical treatment. — The nuclearg value of the isomer has been determined to be g=(–)0.195(5) thus confirming the configuration (vh_11/2)².     

Transverse spin relaxation of spin carriers diffusing in spatially periodic magnetic fields

An exact solution of the Bloch–Torrey equation that covers the entire range of relative diffusivities D between the spin carriers and the magnetic structure (due to, e.g., spin‐density waves) is given for the transverse relaxation of an initally uniformly polarized spin system under the influence of a magnetic field varying sinusoidally in space. Explicit closed‐form results for the short‐time relaxation are obtained making use of Laplace transforms, the three‐term recurrence relations associated with Mathieu’s equation, and novel sum rules. At intermediate diffusivities the transverse polarization exhibits a novel long‐time behaviour as a function of D. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

129Xe-Xe molecular spin relaxation

We identify the formation of bound 129Xe-Xe molecules as the primary fundamental spin-relaxation process at densities below 14 amagat. Low pressure Xe relaxation rate measurements as a function of gas composition show that Xe-Xe molecular relaxation contributes 1/T1 = 1/4.1 h to the total observed relaxation rate. The measured rate is consistent with theoretical estimates deduced from previously measured NMR chemical shifts. At atmospheric pressure the molecular relaxation is more than an order of magnitude stronger than binary relaxation. Confusion of molecular and wall relaxation mechanisms has historically caused wall relaxation rates to be overestimated.     

129Xe diffusion in a ferroelectric liquid crystal

Measurements of ¹²⁹Xe self-diffusion and shielding as a function of temperature were performed to cover the different phases of the ferroelectric liquid crystal FELIX-R&;D. The shielding data prove untwisting of the helical structure in the nematic phase (i.e. non-chiral nematic phase) of FELIX-R&;D. Self-diffusion measurements were carried out in a direction parallel to the main magnetic field of the NMR spectrometer. However, in order to yield the anisotropy of the xenon self-diffusion tensor a few measurements also were performed in the perpendicular direction. A special technique, based on the observation of the second spin echo instead of the conventional first one, was applied to avoid convection problems. The experiments reveal all the phase transitions and a continuous decrease in the self-diffusion constant along the external magnetic field, D‖, when moving from the isotropic to the smectic C? phase. The respective activation energy E‖ appears to vary remarkably, however, being about the same in the isotropic and smectic C? phases. In the smectic mesophases significantly faster xenon self-diffusion was detected in the perpendicular direction than in the parallel direction. The detected self-diffusion constant D ⊥ in the perpendicular direction seems to remain almost constant in the smectic mesophases and close to the value of the self-diffusion constant in the isotropic phase. The results are in agreement with the structural features of smectic phases and indicate redistribution of xenon atoms towards the interlayer space of smectic mesophases.     

Intermolecular dipole-dipole relaxation of (129)Xe dissolved in water

Intermolecular (129)Xe-(1)H nuclear Overhauser effects and (129)Xe longitudinal relaxation time measurements were used to demonstrate that the dipole-dipole coupling is the dominant relaxation mechanism for (129)Xe in water, at room temperature. (129)Xe-(1)H cross-relaxation rates were derived to be sigma(XeH) approximately 3.2 +/- 0.3 x 10(-3) s(-1), independent of xenon pressure (in the range of 1-10 bar) and of the presence of oxygen. Corresponding xenon-proton internuclear distances were calculated to be 2.69 +/- 0.12 A. Using the magnitude of the dipole-dipole coupling and the spin density ratio between dissolved xenon and bulk water, it is estimated that (129)Xe-(1)H spin polarization-induced nuclear Overhauser effects would yield little net proton signal enhancement in water.     

Nuclear spin maser and experimental search for 129 Xe atomic EDM

The present status of an active spin maser which is being developed for an experimental search for ¹²⁹Xe atomic electric dipole moment (EDM) is presented. In order to realize the long term stability of maser frequency, systematic effects for the spin maser operation were investigated. The correlations in the maser frequency with the solenoid current, the environmental field and the cell temperature were found. With the solenoid current and environmental field being stabilized and the cell temperature lowered, a frequency precision of 7.9 nHz has been achieved for the maser operation.     

Measurement of 129Xe frequency shift due to Cs–129Xe collisions

Enhancement factor K0, which characterizes NMR and EPR frequency shifts for Cs-129Xe, is measured for the first time. The enhancement factor r-o was measured to be （702±41） at 80 ℃ and （653±20） at 90 ℃, using the NMR frequency shift, detected by atomic magnetometer at a low magnetic field of 100 nT. This result is useful for predicting the EPR frequency shifts for Cs and the NMR frequency shifts for 129Xe in spin-exchange cells.     

Optimal control of spin dynamics in the presence of relaxation

Experiments in coherent spectroscopy correspond to control of quantum mechanical ensembles guiding them from initial to final target states. The control inputs (pulse sequences) that accomplish these transformations should be designed to minimize the effects of relaxation and to optimize the sensitivity of the experiments. For example in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, a question of fundamental importance is what is the maximum efficiency of coherence or polarization transfer between two spins in the presence of relaxation. Furthermore, what is the optimal pulse sequence which achieves this efficiency? In this paper, we give analytical answers to the above questions. Unexpected gains in sensitivity are reported for one of the most commonly used experimental building blocks in NMR spectroscopy. Surprisingly, in the case when longitudinal relaxation is small, the relaxation optimized pulse elements (ROPE) that transfer maximum polarization between coupled spins are longer than conventional sequences.     

Search for electric dipole moment in 129Xe atom using a nuclear spin oscillator

We aim to measure the electric dipole moment (EDM) of a diamagnetic atom ¹²⁹Xe using an optical-detection nuclear spin maser technique. The relation of EDM in a diamagnetic atom to nuclear Schiff moment and fundamental sources generating it is discussed, and the present status for the development of our experimental setup is presented.     

Transverse spin dynamics of a spin-polarized Fermi liquid

A microscopic derivation of the equations of transverse spin dynamics of a spin-polarized Fermi liquid at zero temperature is given in the leading-order approximation in the frequencies and wave vectors characterizing the spin motion. The equations are applicable for arbitrary degree of polarization and arbitrary deviations of the spin direction from the equilibrium orientation. The solutions describing a coherently precessing two-domain structure and spin waves are examined. In contrast to the assertion discussed in the literature that spin waves are damped at zero temperature, spin waves are found to be undamped in the long-wavelength limit. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 65, No. 9, 717–721 (10 May 1997)     

Laser-polarized (129)Xe NMR and MRI at ultralow magnetic fields

Laser-polarized (129)Xe and a high-T(c)superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) are used to obtain magnetic resonance images in porous materials at a magnetic field of 2.3 mT, corresponding to a Larmor frequency of 27 kHz. Image resolution of 1 mm is obtained with gradients of only 1 mT/m. The resolution of xenon chemical shifts in different physicochemical environments at ultralow fields is also demonstrated. Details of the circulating flow optical pumping apparatus and the SQUID spectrometer are presented.     

NMR spin-lattice relaxation of the129Xe nucleus of xenon gas dissolved in various isotropic liquids

The spin-lattice relaxation time of the¹²⁹Xe nucleus of natural xenon gas dissolved in various isotropic liquids, acetonitrile, benzene, carbon tetrachloride and cyclohexane, was studied as a function of temperature at the magnetic fields of 9.4 and 4.7 T. The utilization of hydrogenated and deuterated benzene and cyclohexane reveals that the intermolecular¹²⁹Xe-¹H dipole-dipole interaction constitutes an important relaxation mechanism in hydrogenated solvents. According to this interpretation the interaction is rather strongly temperature-dependent, and increases with increasing temperature. An important observation of an experimental nature is also noted, namely convective flow present in non-spinning sample tubes at elevated temperatures disturbs inversion-recovery measurements and leads to erroneous and unreliable relaxation time values.