Limits to the polarization for spin-exchange optical pumping of 3He.

Hybrid spin-exchange optical pumping of 3He.

We demonstrate spin-exchange optical pumping of 3He using a "hybrid" K-Rb vapor mixture. The Rb atoms absorb light from a standard laser at 795 nm, then collisionally polarize the potassium atoms. Spin-exchange collisions of K and 3He atoms then transfer the angular momentum to the 3He with much greater efficiency than Rb-3He. For a K-rich vapor, the efficiency of the hybrid spin-exchange colli...

On the limits of spin-exchange optical pumping of 3He

Hyperpolarized 3He Gas Production and MR Imaging of the Lung

Optical polarization of 3He generates large nuclear spin magnetizations, allowing MR imaging of the gas spaces of human and animal lungs despite the low number density of spins in the gas. The atomic physics of optical pumping and spin exchange is explained; the hardware for polarizing, transporting, and imaging is detailed. Pulse sequences for optimum use of the nonrenewable magnetization requ...

Spin Exchange Optical Pumping of Neon and Its Applications

Hyperpolarized noble gases are used in a variety of applications including medical diagnostic lung imaging, tests of fundamental symmetries, spin filters, atomic gyroscopes, and atomic magnetometers. Typically 3He is utilized because large 3He polarizations on the order of 80% can be achieved. This is accomplished by optically pumping an alkali vapour which polarizes a noble gas nucleus via spi...

Thermodynamic properties of polarized liquid 3He along different isentropic paths

The dependence of some thermodynamic properties of spin-polarized liquid 3He such as velocity of sound, adiabatic index, isentropic compressibility and temperature on the spin polarization has been investigated along different isentropic paths. The Lennard-Jones potential has been used in our calculations. It has been found that for higher values of entropy, the spin polarization has greate...