NMR investigations of dynamical processes in orientationally ordered and disordered NaCN,RbCN and CsCN

The nuclear spin lattice relaxation timeT ₁ of the²³Na,⁸⁵Rb,⁸⁷Rb,¹³³Cs,¹⁴N nuclei is measured in NaCN, RbCN and CsCN as a function of temperature below and above the ferroelastic phase transition temperatureT _c. BelowT _c the behaviour ofT ₁ of the alkali nuclei renders possible to determine the flip frequency of the CN molecules and its temperature dependence. AboveT _c from the¹⁴NT ₁ the correlation time τ_c of the rotational motions of the CN molecules and its temperature dependence is determined. An empirical rule is verified demonstrating that atT _c the correlation times take nearly the same values for all cyanides. For the high and low temperature phases one obtains atT _c about τ_c=5·10^?13s and τ_c=5·10^?11s, respectively. The results are discussed with respect to the mechanism of the phase transition.