Polarization and relaxation of 209Rn

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Vol. 579; no. 1; pp. 472 - 475
• Main Authors: Tardiff, Eric R., Chupp, Timothy E., Lorenzon, Wolfgang, Nuss-Warren, Sarah R., Behr, John A., Pearson, Matthew R., Gulyuz, Kerim, Lefferts, Richard S., Pietralla, Norbert, Rainovski, Georgi, Sell, Jerry F., Sprouse, Gene D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.08.2007
• Subjects: EDM; Polarization; Radon; Relaxation; Polarization; Relaxation; 23.20.En; 23.20.Gq; Radon; 11.30.−j; EDM
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2007.04.105

The study of the nuclear polarization of radon is motivated by the expected large enhancement of sensitivity to a CP-violating electric dipole moment (EDM) in isotopes with octupole deformation or vibrational strength. In preparation for EDM measurements, the polarization of radon by spin exchange with laser-polarized alkali metals is studied. The measurement of the alignment of 209Rn using HPGe detectors to observe the resulting anisotropy in the 337 and 745 keV gamma rays emitted following electron-capture decay of 209Rn to 209At is demonstrated. Radon is polarized via spin-exchange collisions with rubidium atoms in an uncoated Pyrex optical pumping cell. Anisotropy measurements at several temperatures are used to study polarization and relaxation .