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US 6,318,092 B1Granted
Alkali metal hybrid spin-exchange optical pumping
AssigneeThe Trustees of Princeton University
InventorsWilliam Happer, Gordon D. Cates, Jr., Mikhail V. Romalis, Christopher J. Erickson
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Abstract
Methods of hyperpolarizing a noble gas by spin-exchange optical pumping use an alkali metal hybrid comprising a primary alkali metal and an auxiliary alkali metal to effectuate spin transfer interaction among the primary alkali metal, the auxiliary alkali metal, and the noble gas.
Claims26
A method of hyperpolarizing a noble gas by spin-exchange optical pumping, comprising:
- providing a polarization cell continuing a noble gas, a primary alkali metal, and an auxiliary alkali metal;
- and
- illuminating the polarization cell with radiation having a wavelength which optically polarizes the primary alkali metal;
- thereby enhancing spin-exchange interaction among the primary alkali metal, the auxiliary alkali metal, and the noble gas, whereby spin transfer to the noble gas yields hyperpolarized noble gas.
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A method of hyperpolarizing a noble gas, comprising:
- a) optically polarizing a primary alkali metal by illumination with radiation having wavelength that is resonant with an electronic transition in the primary alkali metal;
- b) transferring polarization of the primary alkali metal to an auxiliary alkali metal;
- and
- c) delivering polarization of the auxiliary alkali metal to a noble gas, thereby providing a noble gas having increased polarization.
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An apparatus for hyperpolarizing a noble gas by spin-exchange optical pumping, comprising:
- a polarization cell containing a noble gas and an alkali metal hybrid, wherein the alkali metal hybrid comprises a primary alkali metal and an auxiliary alkali metal;
- and
- an optical pumping source configured to optically polarize the primary alkali metal in the polarization cell;
- wherein, in operation, the apparatus promotes spin-exchange interaction among the primary alkali metal, the auxiliary alkali metal, and the noble gas, whereby spin transfer to the noble gas yields hyperpolarized noble gas.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.