Abstract
Indirect spin-spin interactions between nuclei bound in a molecule are well known in nuclear magnetic resonance, but such interactions between unbound atoms are less well studied and are often assumed to be zero. We present a precision calculation of this interaction between and nuclei in a gas. Relativistic, state-of-the-art electronic structure theory is used to compute the scalar coupling constant and the interatomic potential energy function as functions of the Xe-He internuclear distance . Using virial expansion we find the nuclear spin enhancement factor , in excellent agreement with recent experiments. This interaction is particularly important for precision measurements using nuclear spin comagnetometers.
- Received 22 November 2018
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.99.060501
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