Refrigeration – Low pressure cold trap process and apparatus
Patent
1996-03-29
1997-07-01
Capossela, Ronald C.
Refrigeration
Low pressure cold trap process and apparatus
62919, 62925, B01D 800
Patent
active
056426259
ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus for hyperpolarization of flowing noble gases is disclosed, including means for hyperpolarization of noble gases in a continuous flow arrangement. Noble gases such as xenon-129 and helium-3 can be hyperpolarized using the disclosed method and apparatus. Preferably, the noble gas is hyperpolarized via spin exchange between atoms of the noble gas and an alkali metal such as rubidium. Also, a method and apparatus for accumulation and/or storage of hyperpolarized noble gases in a continuous flow arrangement is provided. The method and apparatus enable large scale production, storage, and usage of hyperpolarized noble gases for numerous purposes, including imaging of human and animal subjects through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.
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Cummings, et al., "Optical Pumping Of Rb Vapor Using High-Power Ga.sub.1 -.sub.x Al.sub.x As Diode Laser Arrays", Physical Review A, vol. 51, No. 6, pp. 4842-4851 (1995).
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Cates, Jr. Gordon D.
Driehuys Bastiaan
Happer William
Middleton Hunter
Miron Eli
Capossela Ronald C.
The Trustees of Princeton University
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