摘要: We have studied the physics underlying the production, accumulation, and cryogenic separation of hyperpolarized xenon-129. This research has led to a dramatically improved understanding of the physics behind nuclear relaxation in ... 展开 We have studied the physics underlying the production, accumulation, and cryogenic separation of hyperpolarized xenon-129. This research has led to a dramatically improved understanding of the physics behind nuclear relaxation in solid xenon and resolved long-standing discrepancies between theoretical predictions and experimental observation. The information gained from these experiments allowed us to produce greater quantities of hyperpolarized 129Xe with higher nuclear polarization. This in turn permitted us to begin cutting- edge studies applying hyperpolarized 129Xe nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to samples of biological interest. Specifically, we performed preliminary experiments which demonstrated that hyperpolarized 129Xe spectroscopy may be useful in the diagnosis of atherosclerosis. 收起