Theory of Spin Relaxation and Recombination in Spin-Polarized Atomic Hydrogen
B. W. Statt, A. J. Berlinsky
A calculation is presented of the relaxation rate ${{T}_{1}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ between the lowest two hyperfine states of a dilute gas of H atoms in high magnetic field at low temperatures. Dipole-dipole interactions dominate ${{T}_{1}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, leading to long relaxation times at low temperatures (${{T}_{1}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\ensuremath{\approx}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}2}{n}_{\mathrm{H}}{T}^{\frac{1}{2}}$ ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ at $H\ensuremath{\approx}100$ kG). The recombination rate due to wall collisions is much greater than ${{T}_{1}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and can lead to a depletion of the lowest hyperfine state from thermal equilibrium and an effective recombination rate equal to ${{T}_{1}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$.
Physical Review Letters•Dec 1, 1980•69 citations