Production and application of hyperpolarized noble gases
129Xe polarizer
| Principle | optical spin-exchange pumping in continuous-flow mode |
| Production rate | approx. 400 ml/h |
| Degree of polarization | approx. 15 % |
| Working medium | Xe (2 vol-%), N2 (4 vol-%), He (94 vol-%), Rb vapor |
| Pressure | 5 bar |
| Laser | 120-W diode laser system, λ = 794.8 nm |
| Diagnostics | on-line NMR, optical spectrometer |
Mobile 129Xe-polarizer
| Principle | optical spin-exchange pumping in continuous-flow mode |
| Degree of polarization | approx. 25 % |
| Working medium | Xe, N2, He , Rb vapor (partial pressures variable) |
| Pressure | 3 bar |
| Laser | 110-W diode-laser system, λ = 794.8 nm |
| Diagnostics | on-line NMR, optical spectrometer |
3He-129Xe polarizer
| Principle | optical spin-exchange pumping in batch mode |
| Degree of polarization | approx. 50 % for 129Xe, 20 % for 3He |
| Working medium | Xe, N2, He, Rb vapor (partial pressures variable) |
| Pressure | 1-3 bar |
| Laser | 100-W diode-laser system, λ = 794,8 nm |
| Diagnostics | on-line NMR, optical spectrometer |
Narrowband pump lasers for optical spin-exchange pumping
| Principle | volume Bragg grating stabilized laser diode array |
| Laser power | 4 x 100 Watt |
| Wavelength | 795 +- 0.5 nm |
| Spectral linewidth | below 0.5 nm |
Small animal ventilation system for hyperpolarized gases
| Principle | computer-controlled ventilation system with a special branch of hyperpolarized gas |
| Adapted | for small animals |
| Parameter | tidal volume and respiratory cycle sequence freely programmable |
Gas separation module for up-concentration of hyperpolarized 129Xe
| Principle | semipermeable gas separation membrane |
| Adapted | continuous flow |
| Parameter | complete separation of the helium process gas from the gas stream containing the hyperpolarized 129Xe |
Wolfgang Kilian