Transverse spin relaxation and diffusion-constant measurements of spin-polarized 129 Xe nuclei in the presence of a magnetic field gradient

Abstract

The presence of a magnetic field gradient in a sample cell containing spin-polarized 129 Xe atoms will cause an increased relaxation rate. We measured the transverse spin relaxation time of 129 Xe verse the applied magnetic field gradient and the cell temperature. We then compared the different transverse spin relaxation behavior of dual isotopes of xenon (129 Xe and 131 Xe) due to magnetic field gradient in the same cell. The experiment results show the residual magnetic field gradient can be measured and compensated by applying a negative magnetic gradient in the sample cell. The transverse spin relaxation time of 129 Xe could be increased 2-7 times longer when applying an appropriate magnetic field gradient. The experiment results can also be used to determine the diffusion constant of 129 Xe in H 2 and N 2 to be 0.4 ± 0.26 cm 2 /sec and 0.12 ± 0.02 cm 2 /sec. The results are close with theoretical calculation.