High-volume production of laser-polarized 129Xe

Abstract

A method is described for producing several liters of nuclear spin polarized 129Xe gas via spin exchange with an optically pumped Rb vapor. We use a 140 W AlGaAs laser diode array whose broad spectral output is efficiently absorbed by employing ∼10 atm of 4He to pressure broaden the Rb D1 absorption profile. 129Xe is polarized in a continuous gas flow and is then cryogenically accumulated and stored. Extensions of this technique should enable the production of tens of liters of 129Xe with a nuclear spin polarization of order 50%. Production of laser-polarized 129Xe in liter quantities is important for the continued development of magnetic resonance imaging using spin-polarized 129Xe.