Low-temperature spin-lattice relaxation of8Li in the glass Li2O·2SiO2

Nuclear spin-lattice relaxation in Li₂0·2Si0₂ glass below 200 K has been studied using the asymmetric Β-decay radiation of polarized⁸Li (T_1/2=0.Bs) nuclei produced by capture of polarized neutrons. Transients of the⁸Li polarization follow an exp(?√E/T₁) law. The dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation rate ⊥_¯1 ¹ on temperature T and magnetic field B can roughly be described by T_¯1 ¹～T/B. The interpretation is based on the assumption that for⁸Li, contrary to⁷Li in the same glass, spin-diffusion is absent and that each probe nucleus is coupled by quadrupolar interaction to an individual distribution of nearby centres typical of glasses. The fluctuation of these centres causing relaxation may be induced by either a multi-phonon or a thermally activated motional process.