Rb−129Xe spin-exchange rates due to binary and three-body collisions at high Xe pressures

We have studied the spin relaxation of ${}_{}{}^{129}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Xe}$ nuclei due to collisions with Rb atoms at Xe pressures of 245–1817 Torr. Our results can be characterized by two parameters, the Rb${\mathrm{-}}^{129}$Xe velocity-averaged binary spin-exchange cross section 〈σv〉 and a rate ${\gamma }_{\mathit{M}}$ that characterizes spin relaxation due to van der Waals molecules. Our results complement earlier studies performed at Xe pressures of about 1 Torr and ${\mathrm{N}}_2$ pressures of 10–100 Torr. This work is useful for predicting spin-exchange rates between polarized Rb atoms and ${}_{}{}^{129}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Xe}$ nuclei.