Visualization of foreign atoms by optical magnetic-resonance imaging of Csatoms

We perform optical magnetic-resonance (MR) imaging of Cs atoms that are pol arized by the transfer fi om the polarized Xe or Rb atoms in a glass cell, as well as by direct optical pumping. With MR images of Cs by alternate opt ical pumping and detection the distribution of polarized Xe or ph of low ga s pressure is observed in a weak magnetic field. We also discuss the effect of the spin-relaxation and the spin-exchange collisions between Cs, Xe, an d Rb atoms on the spatial resolution of MR images of the diffusing Cs atoms . (C) 2000 Optical Society of America [S0740-3224(00)01302-3].