Hyperpolarization of lithium and other nuclei

US8248068B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Stephan Appelt · Aachen, DE
• Wolfgang Häsing · Lich, DE
• Ulrich Sieling · St. Blasien, DE
• Holger Kühn · Leverkusen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 25, 2006
• Grant date: Aug 21, 2012
• Expiry date: May 26, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R33/282
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The invention concerns a method for hyperpolarizing lithium atoms in a mixture by optically pumping, in a sampling cell, atoms of a first type or alkali metal and by spin exchange between the optically pumped electron of the alkali metal and the lithium atom electron. The lithium atoms are preferably oxidized into Li+ ions and accumulated. The nuclear spin polarization of the Li+ ions can be transmitted to a nuclear spin of an anion. The invention also concerns a method for producing substances with nuclear spin polarization in general. In accordance with said method, lithium atoms are optically pumped from atoms of a first type of alkali metal in a sampling cell and hyperpolarized by spin exchange between the optical pumped electron of the alkali metal and the lithium atom electron, the lithium atoms being then oxidized into Li+ ions. Then, the nuclear spin polarization of the Li+ ions is transmitted to another nucleus of an anion. Thus it is possible to obtain hyperpolarized nuclei such as, for example, 13C, 31P or 29Si in solid or liquid phase, in large amounts and at high polarizing levels.