Motion of vapor atoms studied by optical magnetic resonance tomography

In this paper we present an apparatus that allows the two-dimensional imagi ng of the motion of spin-polarized alkali atoms in a buffer gas using magne tic resonance tomography with optical preparation and optical read-out. We have used this novel technique to study the diffusion of cesium atoms in a gas of neon atoms, and have determined the diffusion coefficient D-o to be 0.20(1) cm(2)/s at standard conditions. The technique will he applied in th e future for high resolution studies of He-matrix isolated alkali atoms and might find application for the 3D mapping of Bose-Einstein Condensation.