A new general technique for the investigation of exchange processes in molecular systems is proposed and demonstrated. Applications comprise the study of chemical exchange, of magnetization transfer by inter‐ and intramolecular relaxation in liquids, and of spin diffusion and cross‐relaxation processes in solids.

Investigation of exchange processes by two‐dimensional NMR spectroscopy

The possibilities for the extension of spectroscopy to two dimensions are discussed. Applications to nuclear magnetic resonance are described. The basic theory of two‐dimensional spectroscopy is developed. Numerous possible applications are mentioned and some of them treated in detail, including the elucidation of energy level diagrams, the observation of multiple quantum transitions, and the recording of high‐resolution spectra in inhomogenous magnetic fields. Experimental results are presented for some simple spin systems.

Two‐dimensional spectroscopy. Application to nuclear magnetic resonance

The NMR signals of isotopically or chemically dilute nuclear spins S in solids can be enhanced by repeatedly transferring polarization from a more abundant species I of high abundance (usually protons) to which they are coupled. The gain in power sensitivity as compared with conventional observation of the rare spins approaches NII(I+1)γI2/NSS(S+1)γS2, or ∼ 103 for S = 13C, I = 1H in organic solids. The transfer of polarization is accomplished by any of a number of double resonance methods. High‐frequency resolution of the S ‐spin signal is obtained by decoupling of the abundant spins. The experimental requirements of the technique are discussed and a brief comparison of its sensitivity with other procedures is made. Representative applications and experimental results are mentioned.

Proton‐enhanced NMR of dilute spins in solids

Rationale and Objectives:To characterize and compare commercially available contrast media (CM) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in terms of their relaxivity at magnetic field strengths ranging from 0.47 T to 4.7 T at physiological temperatures in water and in plasma. Relaxivities also were quan

Comparison of magnetic properties of MRI contrast media solutions at different magnetic field strengths.

A novel magnetic resonance imaging technique provides direct imaging of motion by spatially modulating the degree of magnetization prior to imaging. The preimaging pulse sequence consists of a radio-frequency (RF) pulse to produce transverse magnetization, a magnetic field gradient to "wrap" the phase along the direction of the gradient, and a second RF pulse to mix the modulated transverse magnetization with the longitudinal magnetization. The resulting images show periodic stripes due to the modulation. Motion between the time of striping and image formation is directly demonstrated as a corresponding displacement of the stripes. This technique can be used to study heart wall motion, to distinguish slowly moving blood from thrombus, and to study the flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid.

Thomas C. Farrar

Papers

Pulse and Fourier transform NMR