A microfabricated hyperpolarized Xe source

Spin-exchange collisions offer an efficient way to transfer spin orientation from optically pumped alkali-metal atoms to the nuclei of noble gas atoms. Of particular interest in NMR spectroscopy is the polarization of xenon gas, which due to its physical properties is an amenable sensor in fields ranging from medical imaging to analytical chemistry. There is current interest in developing portable NMR instrumentation combining hyperpolarized Xe. Here we demonstrate a microfabricated platform for the optical production and detection of polarized Xe gas. The device is implemented in a 3 cm X 1cm X 0.1 cm silicon preform with two micromachined chambers connected by a 300 $\mu $m X 300 $\mu $m X 1000 $\mu $m channel. One chamber is used to orient Xe nuclei spin through spin-exchange collisions with optically pumped Rb atoms. Characterization of the polarized Xe is carried out in the second chamber by measuring its magnetic field using a Rb magnetometer.