Development of a xenon polarizer for magnetometry in neutron electric dipole moment experiments

Abstract

Next generation electric dipole moment experiments require precise knowledge of the local magnetic fields in the experimental volume. Hyperpolarized xenon-129 has been proposed as a comagnetometer gas to be used in the neutron electric dipole moment experiment planned for TRIUMF. A flow through xenon polarizer was constructed and tested, and the hyperpolarized Xe-129 produced was transported to and characterized using a new AFP-NMR spectrometer. The polarization measured in the external AFP-NMR spectrometer was (12 ± 4)%. The longitudinal spin relaxation time T1 was found to be (77 ± 24) s in the experimental NMR volume, limited by leaks and field inhomogeneity. This represents good progress towards the eventual system for nEDM experiments where polarizations greater than 50% and T1, T2 relaxation times greater than 1000 s are expected.