Medical Imaging with Laser Polarized Noble Gases

The field of medical imaging with polarized rare gases, just five years old, has brought optical scientists together with medical researchers to perfect techniques and pursue new opportunities for biomedical research. This review, written for the likely reader of these volumes, aims to present the field from several perspectives. The historical perspective shows how applications of nuclear polarization for experiments in nuclear and particle physics led to techniques for production of large quantities of highly polarized 3He that are increasingly reliable and economical. The atomic/optical physics perspective details the underlying processes of optical pumping, polarization, and relaxation of the rare gases. The biomedical perspective describes work to date and the potential applications of imaging in medicine and research.