Separating molecular spin isomers is a challanging task, with potential applications in various fields ranging from astrochemistry to magnetic resonance imaging. A new promissing method for spin-isomer separation is magnetic focusing, a method which was shown to be capable of producing a molecular beam of ortho-water. Here, we present results from a modified magnetic focusing apparatus and show that it can be used to separate the spin isomers of acetylene and methane. From the measured focused profiles of the molecular beams and a numerical simulation analysis we provide estimations for the spin purity and the significantly improved molecular flux obtained with the new setup. Finally, we discuss the spin-relaxation conditions which will be needed to apply this new source for measuring NMR signals of single surface layer.

In-situ NMR spin-lattice relaxation measurements were performed on several vapor deposited ices. The measurements, which span more than 6 orders of magnitude in relaxation times, show a complex spin-lattice relaxation pattern that is strongly dependent on the growth conditions of the sample. The relaxation patterns change from multi-timescale relaxation for samples grown at temperatures below the amorphous-crystalline transition temperature to single exponential recovery for samples grown above the transition temperature. The slow-relaxation contribution seen in cold-grown samples exhibits a temperature dependence, and becomes even slower after the sample is annealed at 200K. The fast-relaxation contribution seen in these samples, does not seem to change or disappear even when heating to temperatures where the sample is evaporated. The possibility that the fast relaxation component is linked to the microporous structures in amorphous ice samples is further examined using an environmental electron scanning microscope. The images reveal complex meso-scale microporous structures which maintain their morphology up to their desorption temperatures. These findings, support the possibility that water molecules at pore surfaces might be responsible for the fast-relaxation contribution. Furthermore, the results of this study indicate that the pore-collapse dynamics observed in the past in amorphous ices using other experimental techniques, might be effectively inhibited in samples which are grown by relatively fast vapor deposition. * Electronic address: ga232@tx.technion.ac.il Tel: +97248295563 1 arXiv:1711.07228v1 [cond-mat.mtrl-sci]

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