Nuclear Spin-Lattice Relaxation in One-Dimensional Heisenberg Ferrimagnets: Three-Magnon versus Raman Processes

Nuclear spin-lattice relaxation in one-dimensional Heisenberg ferrimagnets is studied by means of a modified spin-wave theory. We consider the second-order process, where a nuclear spin flip induces virtual spin waves which are then scattered thermally via the four-magnon exchange interaction, as well as the first-order process, where a nuclear spin directly interacts with spin waves via the hyperfine interaction. We point out a possibility of the three-magnon relaxation process predominating over the Raman one and suggest model experiments.