Hyperpolarization is the nuclear spin polarization of a material far beyond thermal equilibrium conditions. It can be applied to gases such as 129Xe and 3He, and small molecules where the polarization levels can be enhanced by a factor of 104-105 above thermal equilibrium levels. Hyperpolarized noble gases are typically used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lungs. Hyperpolarized small molecules are typically used for in vivo metabolic imaging. For example, a hyperpolarized metabolite can be injected into animals or patients and the metabolic conversion can be tracked in real-time. Wikipedia, Hyperpolarization
See Also
Dynamic Nuclear Orientation Dynamic Nuclear Polarisation Nuclear Orientation Polarization