NMR and MRI using laser-polarized xenon

The application of optical pumping methods increases the nuclear spin polarization of noble gases by four to five orders of magnitude. This enormous increase in polarization translates directly into greatly enhanced signals for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Selected experiments devised to exploit this enhanced sensitivity are reviewed, including xenon NMR/MRI studies of biological systems and polarization transfer to molecules in solution and on surfaces.