Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Physical Review Letters

Observation of Doubly Spin-Polarized Deuterium by Electron-Spin Resonance

I. Shinkoda, M. W. Reynolds, Richard W. Cline, W. N. Hardy

Published Sep 8, 1986• 21 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We have studied spin-polarized deuterium, ${\mathrm{D}}_{\ensuremath{\downarrow}}$, in the temperature range 0.3 to 0.7 K in a field of 40 kG using electron-spin resonance at 114 GHz. The intrinsic rates for recombination of two D atoms to form ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$ on the surface of $l\ensuremath{-}^{4}\mathrm{He}$ have been measured for both the ortho and para channels. The two rates are approximately equal and when extrapolated to zero field are 1600 times greater than the rates for ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ formation. Doubly spin-polarized deuterium, ${\mathrm{D}}_{\ensuremath{\downarrow},↡}$, has been observed for the first time, with nuclear-spin purities > 0.98 and sample lifetimes as long as 1 h.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.57.1243

Related papers

Studies of spin-polarized hydrogen and deuterium at temperatures below 1 K using E.S.R.

I. Shinkoda

In this thesis we describe the results of two sets of experiments on spin-polarized atomic hydrogen at temperatures below 1 K using a 115 GHz heterodyne ESR spectrometer. First, we have made measurements of the rates of the two-body recombination processes in spin-polarized atomic hydrogen gas and spin-polarized atomic deuterium gas in a 41 kG field. In the second set of experiments, we examined the ESR absorption line associated with the spin-polarized atomic hydrogen atoms adsorbed on surfaces of liquid helium. In hydrogen, a comparision of the measured recombination rates in 41 kG with the corresponding rates measured in different magnetic fields showed that an additional recombination process is activate for the conditions of these experiments. We demonstrate that this is due to a resonant recombination process via the (v,J) = (14,4) level of molecular hydrogen. In spin-polarized deuterium, we found that the recombination rate are much larger than the analogous rates in hydrogen, and therefore that atomic deuterium gas is much less stable than the hydrogen system under comparable conditions. We report the first observation and study of doubly spin-polarized deuterium, a gas in which both the deuteron and electron spins are aligned. At temperatures near 0.1 K, the absorption line of doubly spin-polarized H atoms changes drastically as a peak appears on both sides of the peak associated with the bulk atoms. We have shown that these new peaks are due to the atoms which are adsorbed onto the surface of the liquid helium film that coats the walls of the microwave cavity. The geometry dependent non-zero average magnetic dipolar field due to aligned spins on a planar surface results in a shift of the position of the ESR absorption lines. The lineshapes of the side peaks are very unusual and are best described as ramp-like. Even after extensive attempts to explain this lineshape, we still do not know what mechanism is responsible.

•Jan 1, 2011•0 citations

Electron-spin-resonance studies of spin-polarized hydrogen on the surface of liquid He4

M. W. Reynolds, I. Shinkoda, W. N. Hardy +3 more

Electron-spin resonance at 114 GHz is used to measure the three-body recombination rate (${L}_{3}$) and the two-body surface relaxation rate (${G}_{2s}$) for doubly-spin-polarized H between 100 and 200 mK. Our results for ${L}_{3}$ confirm and extend those of Cline, Greytak, and Kleppner. We find that ${G}_{2s}$ is much smaller than previously reported and in reasonable agreement with theory. Around 100 mK, we also observe sidebands due to surface atoms whose frequency is shifted by dipole-dipole interactions.

Physical review. B, Condensed matter•Jun 1, 1985•29 citations

Relaxation and recombination in spin-polarized atomic hydrogen

D. A. Bell, Harald F. Hess, Greg Kochanski +5 more

We have studied relaxation and recombination processes in compressed, doubly polarized atomic hydrogen at temperatures from 0.13 to 0.60 K and magnetic fields from 3 to 9 T. The gas and surface dipole three-body recombination rate constants at a field of 7.6 T are measured to be, respectively, ${L}_{g}$=8.9(8)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}39}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{6}$ ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ and ${L}_{s}$=1.2(4)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}24}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{4}$ ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$. They decrease slowly with field and ${L}_{s}$ exhibits no significant angular dependence. The three-body recombination rate due to hyperfine mixing has also been measured. Electronic and nuclear relaxation rates have been measured; the b-c electronic relaxation rate constant in the gas is ${G}^{\mathrm{bc}}$=1.03(7)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}15}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$ ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$exp(-${E}_{\mathrm{bc}}$/${k}_{B}$T). The temperature and field dependence of the nuclear relaxation rate in the gas are observed to be in excellent agreement with recent theoretical calculations. Three-body surface recombination-rate measurements using $^{3}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}^{4}$He surfaces indicate that as little as one monolayer of $^{3}\mathrm{He}$ on the liquid $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ surface appreciably decreases the adsorption energy of atomic hydrogen. Densities achieved include 4.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{18}$ atoms${\mathrm{?}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ at 0.55 K (pure $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ walls), and 1.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{18}$ atoms${\mathrm{?}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ at 0.19 K (8 at. ? sup 3---He).

Physical review. B, Condensed matter•Dec 1, 1986•57 citations

Observation of inverse predissociation of spin-polarized atomic hydrogen at low temperatures

M. W. Reynolds, I. Shinkoda, Richard W. Cline +1 more

Measurements of the two-body recombination of spin-polarized atomic hydrogen in a magnetic field of 40 kG have been extended to temperatures above 0.5 K. The rate constant for the formation of parahydrogen shows an unexpected increase with temperature, which is explained by inverse predissociation into the $v=14$, $J=4$ level of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$. Data indicate the level is bound by 0.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1 K.

Physical review. B, Condensed matter•Oct 1, 1986•15 citations

Spin-polarized deuterium in magnetic traps

J. M. V. A. Koelman, Henk T. C. Stoof, BOUDEWIJN J. VERHAAR +1 more

We have calculated the spin-exchange two-body rate constants associated with the population dynamics of the hyperfine levels of atomic deuterium as a function of magnetic field in the Boltzmann zero-temperature limit. Results indicate that a gas of low-field--seeking deuterium atoms trapped in a static magnetic field minimum decays rapidly into an ultrastable gas of doubly spin-polarized deuterium. We also discuss the temperature dependence of various effects.

Physical Review Letters•Aug 10, 1987•48 citations

Magnetic-field dependence of resonance recombination in spin-polarized atomic hydrogen

Isaac F. Silvera, Herman P. Godfried, E. R. Eliel +4 more

The two-body recombination rate of spin-polarized atomic hydrogen has been studied at fixed temperatures in low magnetic fields. Rates in excess of the surface rate are attributed to resonant recombination. The field dependence of the lifetime of the bound state has been approximated by the relation \ensuremath{\tau}=${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{0}$exp(-\ensuremath{\alpha}B), and values for ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{0}$ and \ensuremath{\alpha} have been determined.

Physical review. B, Condensed matter•Feb 1, 1988•6 citations
We have studied spin-polarized deuterium, D\ensuremath↓{\mathrm{D}}_{\ensuremath{\downarrow}}D\ensuremath↓​, in the temperature range 0.3 to 0.7 K in a field of 40 kG using electron-spin resonance at 114 GHz. The intrinsic rates for recombination of two D atoms to form D2{\mathrm{D}}_{2}D2​ on the surface of l\ensuremath−4Hel\ensuremath{-}^{4}\mathrm{He}l\ensuremath−4He have been measured for both the ortho and para channels. The two rates are approximately equal and when extrapolated to zero field are 1600 times greater than the rates for H2{\mathrm{H}}_{2}H2​ formation. Doubly spin-polarized deuterium, D\ensuremath↓,↡{\mathrm{D}}_{\ensuremath{\downarrow},↡}D\ensuremath↓,↡​, has been observed for the first time, with nuclear-spin purities > 0.98 and sample lifetimes as long as 1 h.
In this thesis we describe the results of two sets of experiments on spin-polarized atomic hydrogen at temperatures below 1 K using a 115 GHz heterodyne ESR spectrometer. First, we have made measurements of the rates of the two-body recombination processes in spin-polarized atomic hydrogen gas and spin-polarized atomic deuterium gas in a 41 kG field. In the second set of experiments, we examined the ESR absorption line associated with the spin-polarized atomic hydrogen atoms adsorbed on surfaces of liquid helium. In hydrogen, a comparision of the measured recombination rates in 41 kG with the corresponding rates measured in different magnetic fields showed that an additional recombination process is activate for the conditions of these experiments. We demonstrate that this is due to a resonant recombination process via the (v,J) = (14,4) level of molecular hydrogen. In spin-polarized deuterium, we found that the recombination rate are much larger than the analogous rates in hydrogen, and therefore that atomic deuterium gas is much less stable than the hydrogen system under comparable conditions. We report the first observation and study of doubly spin-polarized deuterium, a gas in which both the deuteron and electron spins are aligned. At temperatures near 0.1 K, the absorption line of doubly spin-polarized H atoms changes drastically as a peak appears on both sides of the peak associated with the bulk atoms. We have shown that these new peaks are due to the atoms which are adsorbed onto the surface of the liquid helium film that coats the walls of the microwave cavity. The geometry dependent non-zero average magnetic dipolar field due to aligned spins on a planar surface results in a shift of the position of the ESR absorption lines. The lineshapes of the side peaks are very unusual and are best described as ramp-like. Even after extensive attempts to explain this lineshape, we still do not know what mechanism is responsible.
Electron-spin resonance at 114 GHz is used to measure the three-body recombination rate (L3{L}_{3}L3​) and the two-body surface relaxation rate (G2s{G}_{2s}G2s​) for doubly-spin-polarized H between 100 and 200 mK. Our results for L3{L}_{3}L3​ confirm and extend those of Cline, Greytak, and Kleppner. We find that G2s{G}_{2s}G2s​ is much smaller than previously reported and in reasonable agreement with theory. Around 100 mK, we also observe sidebands due to surface atoms whose frequency is shifted by dipole-dipole interactions.
We have studied relaxation and recombination processes in compressed, doubly polarized atomic hydrogen at temperatures from 0.13 to 0.60 K and magnetic fields from 3 to 9 T. The gas and surface dipole three-body recombination rate constants at a field of 7.6 T are measured to be, respectively, Lg{L}_{g}Lg​=8.9(8)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}39}$ cm6{\mathrm{cm}}^{6}cm6 ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$ and Ls{L}_{s}Ls​=1.2(4)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}24}$ cm4{\mathrm{cm}}^{4}cm4 ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$. They decrease slowly with field and Ls{L}_{s}Ls​ exhibits no significant angular dependence. The three-body recombination rate due to hyperfine mixing has also been measured. Electronic and nuclear relaxation rates have been measured; the b-c electronic relaxation rate constant in the gas is Gbc{G}^{\mathrm{bc}}Gbc=1.03(7)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}15}$ cm3{\mathrm{cm}}^{3}cm3 ${\mathrm{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$exp(-Ebc{E}_{\mathrm{bc}}Ebc​/kB{k}_{B}kB​T). The temperature and field dependence of the nuclear relaxation rate in the gas are observed to be in excellent agreement with recent theoretical calculations. Three-body surface recombination-rate measurements using $^{3}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}^{4}$He surfaces indicate that as little as one monolayer of 3He^{3}\mathrm{He}3He on the liquid 4He^{4}\mathrm{He}4He surface appreciably decreases the adsorption energy of atomic hydrogen. Densities achieved include 4.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1018{10}^{18}1018 atoms${\mathrm{?}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ at 0.55 K (pure 4He^{4}\mathrm{He}4He walls), and 1.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1018{10}^{18}1018 atoms${\mathrm{?}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ at 0.19 K (8 at. ? sup 3---He).
Measurements of the two-body recombination of spin-polarized atomic hydrogen in a magnetic field of 40 kG have been extended to temperatures above 0.5 K. The rate constant for the formation of parahydrogen shows an unexpected increase with temperature, which is explained by inverse predissociation into the v=14v=14v=14, J=4J=4J=4 level of H2{\mathrm{H}}_{2}H2​. Data indicate the level is bound by 0.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1 K.