Kinetic model for microwave-induced optical nuclear spin alignment of nuclei with I ⩾ 1

Abstract

A kinetic model is presented for the microwave-induced nuclear spin alignment of nuclei with I ⩾ 1 during an optical pumping cycle involving excited triplet states. This model concentrates on the optical detection of the obtained alignment. Possible applications of this method are discussed with respect to quadrupole nuclei in zero external magnetic fields at very low concentrations. Also optically detected nuclear quadrupole resonance on molecules in the electronic ground state is described within this framework.