Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for increasing the intensity of coherent population trapping (CPT) resonances, used in atomic clocks and magnetometers, by pumping the atoms with light of alternating polarization. Pumping with such light, characterized by a photon spin vector that alternates in direction at a hyperfine frequency of the atoms at the location of the atoms, is referred to as push-pull pumping. In one embodiment of the system of the present invention, alkali-metal vapor is pumped with alternating circular-polarization D1 laser light that is intensity modulated at appropriate resonance frequencies, thereby exciting CPT resonances, which can be observed as increase in the mean transmittance of the alkali-metal vapor. These resonances are substantially enhanced due to an optically-induced concentration of atoms in the resonant energy sublevels.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for increasing the intensity of coherent population trapping (CPT) resonances, used in atomic clocks and magnetometers, by pumping the atoms with light of alternating polarization. Pumping with such light, characterized by a photon spin vector that alternates in direction at a hyperfine frequency of the atoms at the location of the atoms, is referred to as push-pull pumping. In one embodiment of the system of the present invention, alkali-metal vapor is pumped with alternating circular-polarization D1 laser light that is intensity modulated at appropriate resonance frequencies, thereby exciting CPT resonances, which can be observed as increase in the mean transmittance of the alkali-metal vapor. These resonances are substantially enhanced due to an optically-induced concentration of atoms in the resonant energy sublevels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accumulation of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe is disclosed. The method and apparatus of the invention enable the continuous or episodic accumulation of flowing hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe in frozen form. The method also permits the accumulation of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe to the substantial exclusion of other gases, thereby enabling the purification of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe. The invention further includes .sup.129 Xe accumulation means which is integrated with .sup.129 Xe hyperpolarization means in a continuous or pulsed flow arrangement. The method and apparatus enable large scale production, storage, and usage of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe for numerous purposes, including imaging of human and animal subjects through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accumulation of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe is disclosed. The method and apparatus of the invention enable the continuous or episodic accumulation of flowing hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe in frozen form. The method also permits the accumulation of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe to the substantial exclusion of other gases, thereby enabling the purification of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe. The invention further includes .sup.129 Xe accumulation means which is integrated with .sup.129 Xe hyper polarization means in a continuous or pulsed flow arrangement. The method and apparatus enable large scale production, storage, and usage of hyperpolarized .sup.129 Xe for numerous purposes, including imaging of human and animal subjects through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.

Abstract: An apparatus for spectral narrowing of high power diode laser arrays includes a high power diode laser array configured for production of an output light beam, a collimator configured for collimation of the output light beam, and a half-wave plate and polarizing beamsplitter positioned to receive the output light beam and to separate it into a feedback beam and a usable beam. The apparatus further includes an interference filter positioned to receive the feedback beam and form it into a filtered feedback beam. The filter has a narrow passband about a desired wavelength. The apparatus still further includes a cat's eye reflector to receive the feedback beam, direct it through the interference filter, and couple the filtered feedback beam into the diode laser array.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for hyperpolarization of flowing noble gases is disclosed, including means for hyperpolarization of noble gases in a continuous flow arrangement. Noble gases such as xenon-129 and helium-3 can be hyperpolarized using the disclosed method and apparatus. Preferably, the noble gas is hyperpolarized via spin exchange between atoms of the noble gas and an alkali metal such as rubidium. Also, a method and apparatus for accumulation and/or storage of hyperpolarized noble gases in a continuous flow arrangement is provided. The method and apparatus enable large scale production, storage, and usage of hyperpolarized noble gases for numerous purposes, including imaging of human and animal subjects through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.