Chemical shift imaging with continuously flowing hyperpolarized xenon for the characterization of materials

In this contribution we report new approaches to the MRI of materials using continuously produced laser-polarized Xe-129 gas. This leads to vastly imp roved sensitivity and makes new kinds of information available. The hyperpo larized xenon is produced in a continuous flow system that conveniently del ivers the xenon at low partial pressure to probes for NMR and MRI experimen ts. We illustrate applications to the study of micropore and other kinds of void space and show for the first time that with flowing hyperpolarized xe non it is possible to obtain chemical-shift-resolved images in a relatively short time. (C) 2000 Academic Press.