High volume hyperpolarizer for spin-polarized noble gas

摘要

A method for hyperpolarizing <129>Xe, comprising: hyperpolarizing <129>Xe in a target gas, characterised in that said gas comprises: a) a fluorescence-quenching gas, for quenching alkali-metal fluorescence, b) a buffer gas, for pressure-broadening the optical absorption spectrum of alkali metal atoms, and c) xenon comprising <129>Xe in at least isotopic abundance; under conditions sufficient to induce hyperpolarization of said <129>Xe by spin exchange with alkali metal atoms, thereby providing hyperpolarized <129>Xe.