Nuclear magnetic resonance gyroscope

A study of the physics of a nuclear magnetic resonance gyroscope is described. Experimental results in nuclear polarization and relaxation in 3He are obtained using an optical pumping apparatus and a high resolution RF spectroscopic technique. Polarization in the metastable states of the heavy noble gases (20, 21 Ne, 129, 132 Xe) was observed using a similar optical pumping apparatus. A sensitive detection method based on optical polarization of an excited state transition is developed and compared with the conventional method of monitoring optical transmission through the optical pumping cell. A new concept for the optical pumping of odd-mass-numbered heavy noble was isotopes to provide for ground-state nuclear polarization is discussed. Significant polarization in excited state neon was observed via collisional transfer from optically pumped helium in a cell filled with a mixture of helium and neon isotopes. The measured polarization was essentially independent of the isotopic composition.