Synchronous Spin-Exchange Optical Pumping

Abstract

We describe a new approach to precision NMR with hyperpolarized gases designed to mitigate NMR frequency shifts due to the alkali spin exchange field. The electronic spin polarization of optically pumped alkali atoms is square-wave modulated at the noble-gas NMR frequency and oriented transverse to the DC Fourier component of the NMR bias field. Noble gas NMR is driven by spin-exchange collisions with the oscillating electron spins. On resonance, the time-average torque from the oscillating spin-exchange field produced by the alkali spins is zero. Implementing the NMR bias field as a sequence of alkali 2$ π$-pulses enables synchronization of the alkali and noble gas spins despite a 1000-fold discrepancy in gyromagnetic ratio. We demonstrate this method with Rb and Xe, and observe novel NMR broadening effects due to the transverse oscillating spin exchange field. When uncompensated, the spin-exchange field at high density broadens the NMR linewidth by an order of magnitude, with an even more dramatic suppression (up to 70x) of the phase shift between the precessing alkali and Xe polarizations. When we introduce a transverse compensation field, we are able to eliminate the spin-exchange broadening and restore the usual NMR phase sensitivity. The projected quantum-limited sensitivity is better than 1 nHz/$\sqrt{\rm Hz}$.