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High-field measurement of the {sup 129}Xe-Rb spin-exchange rate due to binary collisions

Journal Article · · Physical Review. A
; ;  [1]
  1. Department of Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 (United States)

We have measured the binary spin-exchange rate coefficient for collisions between Rb and {sup 129}Xe atoms at a magnetic field B=9.4 T and in the temperature range 160<T<200 deg. C. The longitudinal spin-relaxation rate 1/T{sub 1} of {sup 129}Xe is dominated by {sup 129}Xe-Rb binary collisions. We measured 1/T{sub 1} using the methods of conventional nuclear magnetic resonance, with no spin enhancement by optical pumping. At the high magnetic field and large gas pressures used in this work, the contribution of {sup 129}Xe-Rb molecules to the spin-exchange rate was less than 0.1% of the binary-collision rate. The Rb atomic number density [Rb] was measured directly from the large Faraday rotation of the polarization of near-resonant light passing through the sample cells. The rate coefficient is {kappa}=d(1/T{sub 1})/d [Rb]=(1.75{+-}0.12)x10{sup -16} cm{sup 3}/s.

OSTI ID:
20632300
Journal Information:
Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 66; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English