MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF HYPERPOLARIZED XE-129 PRODUCED BY SPIN-EXCHANGE WITH DIODE-LASER-PUMPED CS

We report the results of experiments leading to the production of an i mage of a polarized Xe-129 sample prepared by spin exchange with Cs, o ptically pumped with a spectrally narrowed 894.3 nm diode laser. Repre sentative images of the average electron spin polarization are shown. Appreciable cesium electron polarization values were achieved, and a n uclear polarization of about 2.5% was measured for Xe-129. The absolut e nuclear polarization was measured by water-calibrated free induction decay of the nuclear magnetic resonance signal, and the polarized xen on imaged using a 2 T magnetic resonance imaging system. (C) 1998 Amer ican Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(98)00444-6]