A method for obtaining potential parameters for helium from T1 measurements

The temperature dependence of T₁ for ³He gas in the range 0–4°K is calculated for a Lennard-Jones (12,6) potential. The relaxation of the nuclear spins is assumed to be due to a dipolar interaction between the nuclei. A minimum value in the relaxation time, T_1,min, is found to occur at a temperature denoted by T_min. By repeating the calculation for different pairs of values of the potential parameters ? and σ, we have found that for a density of 10^?2 g/cm³,σ²T_min = 13.0?1.12 × 10³ ?σ², T_1,min/σ²(T_min)^{$\text{1}\text{2}$} = 17.4?6.56 × 10² ?σ², with ?, σ, T_min and T_1,min in eV, Å, °K and minutes, respectively. From measurements of T_min and T_1,min, ? and σ can be determined.