Nuclear spin-lattice relaxation studies of Cu$_{2}$O

Abstract

We report the $^{63}$Cu and $^{65}$Cu nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate measurements of cuprous oxide Cu$_2$O in a zero field Cu nuclear quadrupole resonance at $T$ = 77$-$325 K. From the detailed isotopic measurements of the relaxation rates, we successfully estimated a finite magnetic relaxation rate $^{63}W_M$ and a predominant nuclear quadrupole relaxation rate $^{63}W_Q$. $^{63}W_Q$ changed as $T^{2.1}$, while $^{63}W_M$ changed as $T^{1.6}$ or $T^{\beta}\mathrm{exp}(-\it\Delta/T)$ with $\beta$ = 0.6(3) and $\it\Delta$ = 190(62) K. The nuclear spin scattering process due to a non-degenerate Fermi gas was discussed as a possible candidate of the magnetic relaxation.