Long-distance delivery of laser-polarized 129Xe using a capillary tube

Abstract

A long-distance delivery system for laser-polarized 129Xe that uses a capillary tube is described. To our knowledge, this is a first nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study of laser-polarized 129Xe fluid behavior that focuses on the effects of the length and inner diameter of the delivery tube of the system. It is found that the maximum signal intensity of laser-polarized 129Xe in a laminar flow is hardly affected by depolarization, even when a tube with a length of 10 m is used under continuous flow conditions. The sensitivity of Xe to its local magnetic environment was successfully applied to demonstrate the usefulness of fused silica capillary tubes with inner diameters ≤0.53 mm. Extensions of this technique should enable the more efficient delivery of 129Xe gas with the sustainable polarization of laser-polarized 129Xe.