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Physics Colloquium Gas-Cell Spin Physics  Printer Version Physics Home > Seminars & Colloquia > Physics Colloquium Gas-Cell Spin Physics

Physics Home Research Courses Undergraduate Program Graduate Program People Alumni & Friends News & Events Seminars & Colloquia CM/AMO Seminar Department Colloquia HEP/Astro Seminars HET Seminars MCTP Colloquia * Saturday Morning Physics Grad Student Mini Colloquia Complex Systems * Focus * Biophysics Seminars * Department Information Site Map * an external link Physics Colloquium Gas-Cell Spin Physics Date: 9/10/2008; 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM Location: 340 West Hall Host Department: Physics Speaker: William Happer, Princeton University Detailed Information Research on optically pumped, spin-polarized, alkali-metal atoms in inert buffer gases like nitrogen or argon continues to provide unexpected and useful new physics. Applications of these simple systems include atomic clocks, magnetometers, hyperpolarized He3 and Xe129 gases for medical imaging and precision measurements. Alkali-metal atoms in buffer gases can be efficiently pumped with inexpensive lasers, and they lose their spin polarization very slowly in collisions with the buffer gas or with the cell walls. Unraveling the causes of the spin relaxation has provided many unexpected insights into optical, gas-phase and surface interactions -- many of which are important in atomic clocks. Contact Information Click here to view the Physics Colloquium schedule.

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