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Magnetic decoupling of {sup 129}Xe-Rb and {sup 129}Xe-Cs binary spin exchange

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

We report calculations of the magnetic decoupling of the nuclear spin relaxation rate of {sup 129}Xe atoms caused by binary collisions with Rb or Cs atoms in a gas. A semiclassical approximation, using a classical path for the collision and treating the spin interactions quantum mechanically, gives results that differ by no more than 2% from calculations with the distorted-wave Born approximation. Both computational methods show that the relaxation rate decreases substantially for magnetic fields of a few tens of teslas. For {sup 129}Xe-Rb, where recent experimental measurements are available, the calculated rate coefficients at the experimental field of 9.4 T are about 80% of the calculated values at zero field. At 9.4 T, the calculated rate coefficient for {sup 129}Xe-Rb is about one-half of the experimentally observed value. This discrepancy is probably due to inaccuracies in the van der Waals and spin-dependent potentials used in the calculations.

OSTI ID:
20633732
Journal Information:
Physical Review. A, Journal Name: Physical Review. A Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 67; ISSN 1050-2947; ISSN PLRAAN
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English