Nuclear polarization of short-lived Na isotopes maintained in single crystals for β-NMR spectroscopy

Abstract A compact β -ray detecting nuclear magnetic/quadrupole resonance system with a permanent magnet was developed at ISAC/TRIUMF to measure ground-state electromagnetic moments of short-lived nuclei. Polarized Na beams produced using the collinear optical-pumping technique were used to demonstrate the properties of the system. The degree of nuclear polarization and the spin–lattice relaxation times of the 20,21,26,27,28 Na isotopes in NaF, TiO 2 , LiNbO 3 , MgF 2 , ZnO, Pt, and Mg single crystals at room temperature are reported. The electric-quadrupole coupling constants of 20,21 Na in TiO 2 , ZnO and Mg, and that of 27 Na in ZnO are also reported. The quadrupole moments of 20,21 Na were extracted from the electric-quadrupole coupling constants in ZnO, using the known quadrupole moment of 27 Na.