Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 October 2006
Peculiar nuclear spin systems can be polarized at a level ofthousands times the value obtained at thermal equilibrium, for instance byoptical pumping. When concentrated, these systems create a sizeable averagedipolar field which is experienced by any nuclear spin. We propose to use thesedistant dipolar fields for performing a polarization transfer in theHartmann-Hahn conditions. We report the maximum enhancement value calculatedusing the spin temperature approach and first theoretical insights on thepolarization transfer rate. Using, as an example, dissolved laser-polarizedxenon, we show that by spin-locking both xenon spins and a proton spin of asolute, the polarization of the latter is enhanced. This is obtained withoutthe existence of chemical interaction between the two entities and withcharacteristic rising time not directly correlated to the protonself-relaxation time. By its generality and its non-local feature, thisapproach could make possible nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy on verydilute systems.