Production of hyperpolarized H_{2} molecules from H[over →] atoms in gas-storage cells.

Abstract

The preservation of the nuclear polarization of hydrogen atoms during the recombination to molecules was observed on different surface materials in the temperature range from 45 to 100K and for magnetic fields up to 1T. On a gold and a fused quartz surface, the expected molecular polarization of about 50% or lower of the atomic polarization was measured, while a surface layer of perfluoropolyether (Fomblin) shows a nearly complete preservation (at least 97%) of the atomic polarization during the recombination process. Further experiments have the possibility of storing polarized deuterium molecules and to use them in nuclear-fusion installations. Another application might be the production of polarized substances for enhanced NMR techniques.