Spin exchange optical pumping of hydrogen and deuterium nuclei

The prospects for the direct production of a nuclear polarized atomic hydrogen or deuterium target by the use of spin exchange optical pumping is analyzed in both a low and a high magnetic field. In a low magnetic field it is found that the optical pumping cell wall coatings must have relaxation times that correspond to thousands of wall collisions if one is to produce a highly polarized target. In a high magnetic field it is found that wall coatings must have relaxation times that correspond to only a few hyndred wall collisions in order to produce a highly polarized atomic hydrogen target but must have relaxation times that correspond to thousands of wall collisions to produce a highly polarized atomic deuterium target.