Robust solid ${}^{129}$Xe longitudinal relaxation times

Abstract

We find that if solid xenon is formed from liquid xenon, denoted "ice", there is a 10% increase of ${}^{129}$Xe longitudinal relaxation $T_1$ time (taken at 77 K and 2 Tesla) over a trickle-freeze formation, denoted "snow". Forming xenon ice also gives unprecedented reproducibility of ${}^{129}$Xe $T_1$ measurements across a range of 77-150 K. This temperature dependence roughly follows the theory of spin-rotation mediated by Raman scattering of harmonic phonons (SRRS), though it results in a smaller-than-predicted spin-rotation coupling strength $c_{K0}/h$. Enriched ice ${}^{129}$Xe $T_1$ experiments show no isotopic dependence in bulk relaxation mechanisms at 77 K and at kilogauss fields.

7 pages, 4 figures