Relaxation of Nuclear Magnetization of LiquidHe3in Confined Geometries

Abstract

We present a model for the relaxation of the magnetization of ${}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$ in contact with a solid substrate, leading to an explanation of the generally seen linear dependence of $T_1$ on temperature. The temperature dependence of the ${}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$ relaxation time results from the localization of the relaxation to the interfacial layer of ${}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}$. The model, tested for experiments on a fluorocarbon substrate, fits the data over three decades of temperature, with one adjustable parameter.