Towards the polarization of DT molecules

Abstract

The polarization of D and T nuclei should increase the reactivity of DT molecules in HIIF processes. At IPN Orsay, we have developed the static polarization of HD samples using “brute force” (BF). It has been demonstrated, that the ageing technique or the double distillation allow to get nuclear relaxation times larger than 1 h, even at 1.5 K and 1 T. It is advocated that it is possible to achieve by RF the conventional Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP) of the proton and the deuteron contained in the HD molecule, using HD samples distilled at Orsay and suitably irradiated. The persistence after irradiation of the long nuclear relaxation times resulting from the double distillation has already been demonstrated. If feasible, the DNP of HD would open the possibility to polarize DT, which has the same magnetic structure as HD and is the ideal fuel for HIIF.