Stray-field imaging of quadrupolar nuclei of half integer spin in solids

A report is presented on the observation of Hahn echoes from the following quadrupolar nuclei of half integer spin (I) in polycrystalline solids in the large static magnetic field gradient (37.5 T/m) which exists in the fringe field of a superconducting solenoid: ⁷Li, ²³Na, ¹¹B, ⁶⁵Cu (I = 3/2); ²⁷Al (I = 5/2); ⁵¹V, ⁵⁹Co (I = 7/2); and ¹¹⁵In (I = 9/2). ²³Na echo-trains from NaCl (with non-selective excitation) and from Na₂SO₄ (with selective excitation) are compared quantitatively for two different RF pulse sequences: 90_x-(τ-90_y-τ-echo-)_n and 90_x-(τ-90_x-τ-echo-)_n. The signals obtained from RF pulses corresponding to non-selective 90 ° pulses were shown to be quantitative, whereas in the selective case smaller signals were obtained since only the central transition contributed. The loss of signal from this cause can be distinguished from small signals resulting from low density of nuclei by use of the second sequence. A ⁷Li image obtained from LiF in a cylindrical glass-vial is shown.