No Arabic abstract
Zero- to ultralow-field nuclear magnetic resonance (ZULF NMR) is an alternative spectroscopic method to high-field NMR, in which samples are studied in the absence of a large magnetic field. Unfortunately, there is a large barrier to entry for many groups, because operating the optical magnetometers needed for signal detection requires some expertise in atomic physics and optics. Commercially available magnetometers offer a solution to this problem. Here we describe a simple ZULF NMR configuration employing commercial magnetometers, and demonstrate sufficient functionality to measure samples with nuclear spins prepolarized in a permanent magnet or initialized using parahydrogen. This opens the possibility for other groups to use ZULF NMR, which provides a means to study complex materials without magnetic susceptibility-induced line broadening, and to observe samples through conductive materials.
Ultralow-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) provides a new regime for many applications ranging from materials science to fundamental physics. However, the experimentally observed spectra show asymmetric amplitudes, differing greatly from those predicted by the standard theory. Its physical origin remains unclear, as well as how to suppress it. Here we provide a comprehensive model to explain the asymmetric spectral amplitudes, further observe more unprecedented asymmetric spectroscopy and find a way to eliminate it. Moreover, contrary to the traditional idea that asymmetric phenomena were considered as a nuisance, we show that more information can be gained from the asymmetric spectroscopy, e.g., the light shift of atomic vapors and the sign of Land$acute{textrm{e}}$ $g$ factor of NMR systems.
As a complementary analysis tool to conventional high-field NMR, zero- to ultralow-field (ZULF) NMR detects nuclear magnetization signals in the sub-microtesla regime. Spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) atomic magnetometers provide a new generation of sensitive detector for ZULF NMR. Due to the features such as low-cost, high-resolution and potability, ZULF NMR has recently attracted considerable attention in chemistry, biology, medicine, and tests of fundamental physics. This review describes the basic principles, methodology and recent experimental and theoretical development of ZULF NMR, as well as its applications in spectroscopy, quantum control, imaging, NMR-based quantum devices, and tests of fundamental physics. The future prospects of ZULF NMR are also discussed.
We present single- and multiple-quantum correlation $J$-spectroscopy detected in zero ($<!!1$~$mu$G) magnetic field using a Rb vapor-cell magnetometer. At zero field the spectrum of ethanol appears as a mixture of carbon isotopomers, and correlation spectroscopy is useful in separating the two composite spectra. We also identify and observe the zero-field equivalent of a double-quantum transition in ${}^{13}$C$_2$-acetic acid, and show that such transitions are of use in spectral assignment. Two-dimensional spectroscopy further improves the high resolution attained in zero-field NMR since selection rules on the coherence-transfer pathways allow for the separation of otherwise overlapping resonances into distinct cross-peaks.
We describe our research programme on the use of atomic magnetometers to detect conductive objects via electromagnetic induction. The extreme sensitivity of atomic magnetometers at low frequencies, up to seven orders of magnitude higher than a coil-based system, permits deep penetration through different media and barriers, and in various operative environments. This eliminates the limitations usually associated with electromagnetic detection.
The error-robust and short composite operations named ConCatenated Composite Pulses (CCCPs), developed as high-precision unitary operations in quantum information processing (QIP), are derived from composite pulses widely employed in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). CCCPs simultaneously compensate for two types of systematic errors, which was not possible with the known composite pulses in NMR. Our experiments demonstrate that CCCPs are powerful and versatile tools not only in QIP but also in NMR.