Optical pumping system design for large production of hyperpolarized.
We present a design for a spin-exchange optical pumping system to produce large quantities of highly polarized 129Xe. Low xenon concentrations in the flowing gas mixture allow the laser to maintain high Rb polarization. The large spin-exchange rate between Rb and 129Xe through the long-lived van der Waals molecules at low pressure, combined with a high flow rate, results in large production rates of hyperpolarized xenon. We report a maximum polarization of 64% achieved for a 0.3 l/h Xe flow rate, and maximum magnetization output of 6 l/h at 22% polarization. Our findings regarding the polarization dependence on temperature, nitrogen partial pressure, and gas mixture flow velocity are also reported.
Department of Physics, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824, USA. icruset@unh.edu
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Ruset
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Ketel
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Hersman
D006371:Helium / Q000737:chemistry; D007834:Lasers; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D012413:Rubidium / Q000737:chemistry; D014979:Xenon Isotopes / Q000737:chemistry*
D014979:Xenon Isotopes; D006371:Helium; D012413:Rubidium; D009584:Nitrogen