Enhanced EPR sensitivity from a ferroelectric cavity insert.

We report the development of a simple ferroelectric cavity insert that increases the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) sensitivity by an order of magnitude when a sample is placed within it. The insert is a hollow cylinder (length 4.8 mm, outside diameter 1.7 mm, inside diameter 0.6 mm) made from a single crystal of KTaO(3), which has a dielectric constant of 230 at X-band (9.5 GHz). Its outside dimensions were chosen to produce a resonant frequency in the X-band range, based on electromagnetic field modeling calculations. The insert increases the microwave magnetic field (H(1)) at the center of the insert by a factor of 7.4 when placed in an X-band TM(110) cavity. This increases the EPR signal for a small (volume 0.13 microL) unsaturated nitroxide spin label sample by a factor of 64 at constant microwave power, and by a factor of 9.8 at constant H(1). The insert does not significantly affect the cavity quality factor Q, indicating that this device simply redistributes the microwave fields within the cavity, focusing H(1) onto the sample inside the insert, thus increasing the filling factor. A similar signal enhancement is obtained in the TM(110) and TE(102) cavities, and when the insert is oriented either vertically (parallel to the microwave field) or horizontally (parallel to the DC magnetic field) in the TM(110) cavity. This order-of-magnitude sensitivity enhancement allows EPR spectroscopy to be performed in conventional high-Q cavities on small EPR samples previously only measurable in loop-gap or dielectric resonators. This is of particular importance for small samples of spin-labeled biomolecules.     

Aqueous flat-cells perpendicular to the electric field for use in electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, II: design

This paper builds on the work of Mett and Hyde [J. Magn. Reson. 165 (2003) 137]. Various aqueous flat-cell geometries in the perpendicular orientation have been studied using Ansoft High Frequency Structure Simulator (version 9.0, Pittsburgh, PA) and Computer Simulation Technology Microwave Studio (version 5.0, Wellesley Hills, MA). The analytic theory of Mett and Hyde has been refined to predict optimum dimensions of multiple sample cell structures including the effect of the sample holder dielectric properties and the interaction of the cells with each other on EPR signal strength. From these calculations and simulations we propose a practical multiple cell sample structure for use in commercial rectangular TE102 cavities that yields 2.0-2.3 times higher sensitivity relative to a single flat-cell in the nodal orientation. We also describe a modified TE102 resonator design with square rather than cylindrical sample-access stacks that is predicted to give a factor of 2.2-2.7 enhancement in EPR signal strength of a single flat-cell in the nodal orientation. These signal enhancements are predicted with sample holders fabricated from polytetrafluoroethylene. Additional improvement in EPR signal of up to 75% can be achieved by using sample holder materials with lower dielectric constants.     

Two-dimensional imaging of two types of radicals by the CW-EPR method

New EPR resonators were developed by using a ceramic material with a high dielectric constant, epsilon=160. The resonators have a high quality factor, Q=10(3), and enhance the sensitivity of an EPR spectrometer up to 170 times. Some advantages of the new ceramic resonators are: (1) cheaper synthesis and simplified fabricating technology; (2) wider temperature range; and (3) ease of use. The ceramic material is produced with a titanate of complex oxides of rare-earth and alkaline metals, and has a perovskite type structure. The resonators were tested with X-band EPR spectrometers with cylindrical (TE(011)) and rectangular (TE(102)) cavities at 300 and 77K. We discovered that EPR signal strength enhancement depends on the dielectric constant of the material, resonator geometry and the size of the sample. Also, an unusual resonant mode was found in the dielectric resonator-metallic cavity structure. In this mode, the directions of microwave magnetic fields of the coupled resonators are opposite and the resonant frequency of the structure is higher than the frequency of empty metallic cavity.     

Dielectric resonator-based side-access probe for muscle fiber EPR study

We present a novel dielectric resonator (DR)-based resonant structure that accommodates aqueous sample capillaries in orientations that are either parallel (i.e., side-access) or perpendicular to the direction of an external (Zeeman) magnetic field, B(0). The resonant structure consists of two commercially available X-band DRs that are separated by a Rexolite spacer and resonate in the fundamental TE(01delta) mode. The separator between the DRs is used to tune the resonator to the desired frequency and, by appropriately drilled sample holes, to provide access for longitudinal samples, notably capillaries containing oriented, spin-labeled muscle fibers. In contrast to the topologically similar cylindrical TE(011) cavity, the DR-based structure has distinct microwave properties that favor its use for parallel orientation of lossy aqueous samples. For perpendicular orientation of a dilute (6.25 microM) aqueous solution of IASL spin label, the S/N ratio was at least one order of magnitude better for the side-access DR-based structure than for a standard TE(102) cavity. EPR spectra acquired for maleimide spin-labeled myosin filaments also revealed ca. 10 times better S/N ratio than those obtained with a standard TE(102) cavity. For the side-access DR with sample capillaries oriented either parallel or perpendicular to the external magnetic field, the Q- and filling factors are in good agreement with the theoretical estimates derived from the distribution of magnetic (H(1)) and electric (E(1)) components.     

二维色散和各向异性磁化等离子体光子晶体色散特性研究

采用平面波展开法和时域有限差分法研究了二维色散和各向异性磁化等离子体光子晶体的色散特性.当波矢在周期平面时,由于外加磁场的作用使TE模的色散曲线出现两个不同区域的平带,改变磁场的大小不但可以控制平带的位置,而且可以控制光子带隙的位置和大小.增大背景材料的介电常数,可以形成全方向光子带隙,随着背景材料介电常数的增加,带隙的中心位置降低但带隙宽度增加.当波矢偏离周期平面时,色散曲线不再分为TE和TM模,随着非周期平面波矢的增加,带隙位置上移,带隙宽度先增加随后基本保持不变.     

Uniform Field Re-entrant Cylindrical TE$$_{01\text {U}}$$ Cavity for Pulse Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy at Q-band

Uniform field (UF) resonators create a region-of-interest, where the sample volume receives a homogeneous microwave magnetic field (\(B_1\)) excitation. However, as the region-of-interest is increased, resonator efficiency is reduced. In this work, a new class of uniform field resonators is introduced: the uniform field re-entrant cylindrical TE\(_{\text {01U}}\) cavity. Here, a UF cylindrical TE\(_{\text {01U}}\) cavity is designed with re-entrant fins to increase the overall resonator efficiency to match the resonator efficiency maximum of a typical cylindrical TE\(_{011}\) cavity. The new UF re-entrant cylindrical TE\(_{\text {01U}}\) cavity is designed for Q-band (34 GHz) and is calculated to have the same electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal intensity as a TE\(_{011}\) cavity, a 60% increase in average resonator efficiency \(\Lambda _\mathrm{ave}\) over the sample, and has a \(B_1\) profile that is 79.8% uniform over the entire sample volume (98% uniform over the region-of-interest). A new H-type T-junction waveguide coupler with inductive obstacles is introduced that increases the dynamic range of a movable short coupler while reducing the frequency shift by 43% during over-coupling. The resonator assembly is fabricated and tested both on the bench and with EPR experiments. This resonator provides a template to improve EPR spectroscopy for pulse experiments at high frequencies.     

Rectangular loop-gap resonator with the light access to the sample

A modified rectangular loop-gap resonator for X-band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies of aqueous samples, enabling the light access, is described. Changes introduced into rectangular resonator geometry, previously presented in Piasecki et al. (1998) [1], and redesigned coupling structure lead to the better thermal and mechanical stability. The modified structure makes provision for the controlled light access to the sample placed in a flat cell during an EPR experiment. The sensitivity of the resonator for aqueous samples as well as an experimentally tested microwave magnetic field homogeneity are presented. Results of simulations and experimental tests indicate that the presence of light access holes in the resonator's front side does not disturb the uniformity of microwave magnetic field distribution in the nodal plane. The optimal flat cell thickness for unsaturable and saturable aqueous samples has been calculated for this new structure. A modified rectangular geometry of the loop-gap resonator ensures a good performance for aqueous samples allowing its convenient and efficient light illumination during EPR signal recording .     

Traveling Internal Plane-wave Synthesis (TIPS) for uniform B1 in high field MRI

A new target-field approach to generating uniform radio frequency (RF) fields within the human body for high field MRI is described. The method involves producing a set of external fields which, after interaction with a dielectric object, superimpose to produce a traveling plane wave, exposing all spins to the same RF amplitude (B1) over a cycle of the harmonic field. Conceptually this is similar to conventional RF shimming, but uses a different RF source design, input data, and objective function. The method requires a detailed knowledge of the coupling between exterior field modes, produced by an array of RF sources, and field modes within the body. Given an estimate of the coupling matrix, the linear superposition of external modes that produces a desired internal target field can be determined. The new method is termed Traveling Internal Plane-wave Synthesis (TIPS). A simple design of a coil array is described that can, in principle, generate the required field modes. Simulations demonstrate that radio frequency magnetic fields of nearly uniform (< 1% variation) magnitude can be produced within dielectric objects larger than a wavelength in size. If the dielectric medium has non-zero conductivity, traveling waves are attenuated as they traverse the object, but field uniformity within planar slices is preserved. For general 3D imaging, a superposition of plane waves can provide field focusing to balance conductive losses, thereby achieving nearly uniform-magnitude B1+ magnetic fields over a volume of interest.     

TE011腔使用扁平样品管提高水溶液样品ESR波谱灵敏度的研究

实验表明,在TE₀₁₁模式园柱形腔中,不但可以使用扁平样品管测量水溶液样品的ESR波谱,而且获得好的腔品质因子Q和高品质的ESR信号。所观察到的信号高度,是使用最佳尺寸毛细管样品时最大信号高度的3.2倍;又是在具有波导尺寸的TE₁₀₂腔中使用扁平样品管时所获得信号高度的3倍。本文对此作了定性的理论分析。     

Aqueous sample in an EPR cavity: sensitivity considerations

The radial mode matching (RMM) method has been used to calculate accurately the microwave field distribution of the TE(011) mode in a spherical EPR cavity containing a linear aqueous sample, in order to understand in detail the factors affecting sensitivity in EPR measurements at X band. Specific details of the experiment were included in the calculations, such as the cavity geometry, the presence of a quartz dewar, the size of the aqueous sample, and the sample's dielectric properties. From the field distribution, several key physical parameters were calculated, including cavity Q, filling factor, mean microwave magnetic field at the sample, and cavity efficiency parameter Lambda. The dependence of EPR signal intensity on sample diameter for a cylindrical aqueous sample was calculated and measured experimentally for non-saturated and half-saturated samples. The optimal aqueous sample diameter was determined for both cases. The impact of sample temperature, conductivity, and cavity Q on sensitivity of EPR is discussed.     

Analysis of the radial and longitudinal effect in a double TE(104) and a single TE(102) rectangular cavity

The response of the cavity to the rotation of a point-like sample in the horizontal (y-z) plane passing through the center of the Bruker double TE(104) and single TE(102) rectangular cavities in concentric circles of radii rho = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mm from the cavity center (radial effect) has been analyzed. The experimentally observed dependencies of the EPR signal intensity, I(pp), showed the following: (i) for rho = 0 mm (a sample position in the cavity center), I(pp) is independent of the angle of rotation; (ii) for rho = 1, 2, and 3 mm, the I(pp) dependence progressively changes from circular to oval; (iii) when the radius is further increased to rho = 4 and 5 mm, the I(pp) dependence changes dramatically, giving a figure eight shape. These experimental observations are in very good agreement with the theoretical calculations, in which the response is modeled using modified Cassinian curves, K(rho, phi). Similar trends were observed for any position of the horizontal (y-z) plane at which the sample is situated along the vertical x axis of the cavity; however, the amplitude of the signal decreases with increase in the absolute value of the x coordinate, ||x ||. The variation in the signal amplitude along the cavity x axis (longitudinal effect) can be calculated theoretically using a modified sine-squared curve, G(x). In general, the response of the cavity to a point-like sample situated at any position, P(rho, phi, x), can be represented as a product of the mentioned Cassinian curve, K(rho, phi), and sine-squared curve, G(x), giving for the signal intensity I(pp)(rho, phi, x) approximately K(rho, phi)G(x). The response to a large cylindrical sample which is concentrically situated on the cavity x axis can then be obtained by integrating the above product, K(rho, phi)G(x), over the sample volume. The nonlinear radial effect may give rise to a serious source of systematic error in quantitative EPR spectroscopy and shows that accurate and precise positioning of the sample in the microwave cavity is essential.     

Modes and Fields of Two Stacked Dielectric Resonators in a Cavity of an Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Probe

An electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) probe consisting of two dielectric resonators (DRs) and a cavity (CV) is ideal for EPR experiments where both signal enhancement and tuning capabilities are required. The coupling of two DRs, resonating in their \({\text{TE}}_{01\delta }\) mode and a CV resonating in its \({\text{TE}}_{011}\) mode, is studied using energy-coupled mode theory (ECMT). The frequencies and eigenvectors of the three coupled modes are analytically derived. As predicted numerically, ECMT confirms that the \({\text{TE}}^{ + + - }\) and \({\text{TE}}^{ + - - }\) modes are indeed found to be degenerate at a specific distance between the two DRs \(d_{12}\). Additionally, the condition at which degeneracy occurs is specified. For a considerable range, the calculated frequency of the \({\text{TE}}^{ + + + }\) mode changes linearly with respect to \(d_{12}\). The \({\text{TE}}^{ + + + }\) mode showed a 500 MHz frequency change over a distance of 2 cm, when the resonance frequency is around 9.7 GHz. This enables the experimentalist to linearly tune the probe over this large frequency range. Finally the asymmetric configuration, where one of the resonators (DR2) is kept at the cavity center and the other one is allowed to move along the cavity axis, is studied. It is estimated that the frequency changes by 600 MHz over a distance of 1.5 cm. A formula for the magnitude of the magnetic field along the cavity axis, where the EPR samples are usually placed, is developed. This is crucial in determining the magnetic field in the vicinity of the sample and the probe’s filling factor.     

射频超导谐振腔中的电磁场研究

由高纯铌制成的射频超导谐振腔在高场时会出现Q值下降现象，这是高场下超导腔表面局部磁场增强所致. 为研究高场下超导腔表面的电磁场特性，用单cell超导腔设计了腔表面峰值磁场的研究实验. 通过对单cell超导腔表面峰值磁场的测量，可以确定超导腔焊缝及iris附近表面是否存在缺陷，以便进一步进行腔的处理来改进腔的性能.     

Eigen electric moments and magnetic–dipolar vortices in quasi-2D ferrite disks

In a quasi-2D ferrite disk with a dominating role of magnetic–dipolar (non-exchange-interaction) spectra, one can observe the vortex structures. The vortices are guaranteed by the chiral edge states of magnetic–dipolar modes which result in appearance of eigen electric moments oriented normally to the disk plane. Due to the eigen-electric-moment properties, a ferrite disk placed in a microwave cavity is strongly affected by the cavity RF electric field with a clear evidence for multi-resonance oscillations. For different cavity parameters, one may observe the resonance absorption and resonance repulsion behaviors.     

Bisection algorithm to calculate hybrid modes of birefringent planar graded index waveguides

Guided modes of a planar dielectric waveguide which encounter a nondiagonal permittivity tensor are neither TE nor TM, but hybrid. They are described by a pair of coupled second-order differential equations for the transversal electric and magnetic field components. We construct a real-valued function which plays the role of the transversal electric or magnetic field in the uncoupled Sturm-Liouville differential equation for TE or TM modes. The number of zeroes, or nodes, of this function labels the modes. The nodes increase with the prospective propagation constant. This fact is proven by constructing suitable self-adjoint operators and referring to the minimax principle. The nodal properties allow to formulate an efficient bisection algorithm for effective indices and field distributions of guided hybrid modes.     

Unilateral MRI using a rastered projection

Unilateral magnetic resonance techniques, where magnet and radio frequency (RF) coil are placed on one side of the sample, can provide valuable information about a sample which otherwise cannot be accommodated in conventional high spectral resolution magnetic resonance systems. A unilateral magnetic resonance imaging approach utilizing the stray field from a disc magnet and a butterfly geometry RF coil is described. The coil excites spins in a volume centered around an arc through the sample. Translating the RF coil relative to the magnet and recording the signal at each translational location creates a projection of the signal in a tomographic slice through the sample. Rotating the RF coil relative to the sample and repeating the translation creates projections through the sample at different angles. Backprojecting this information yields an image. A proof of concept device operating on this principle at 12.4 MHz was constructed and characterized. Projections through three phantoms are presented with a 1.2-4 cm field of view, thickness of 102 microm, and at a distance of 3mm from the RF coil and 14 mm from the magnet. The edge spread function (ESF) was measured resulting in a 4mm full width at half maximum (FWHM) line spread function (LSF) estimation using a Gaussian model. An example of one reconstructed image is presented.     

A phase rotation scheme for achieving very short echo times with localized stimulated echo spectroscopy

In a single-voxel stimulated echo localization sequence in magnetic resonance spectroscopy, magnetic field gradients are inserted within the echo time (TE) to filter signals generated through coherence pathways other than that leading to the stimulated echo. There is a significant penalty for these gradients as they increase the minimum TE, thereby leading to significant signal loss from spin-spin relaxation and phase distortions in coupled spin systems. Here, an RF phase rotation technique is described for a stimulated echo localization sequence that allows removal of the gradients in the TE intervals and, subsequently, reduction of the minimum TE to only 6 ms. Experiments carried out on six healthy volunteers on a 1.5-T whole-body MR system show a significant signal increase in the metabolite concentrations when measured with a 6-ms TE (N-acetyl-aspartate, 12%, P=.002; creatine, 15%, P=.04; and glutamate+glutamine, 92%, P=.02) compared to concentrations measured with data collected at TEs of 15 and 20 ms.     

Interplay between out-of-plane magnetic plasmon and lattice resonance for modified resonance lineshape and near-field enhancement in double nanoparticles array

Two-dimensional double nanoparticle （DNP） arrays are demonstrated theoretically, supporting the interaction between out-of-plane magnetic plasmons and in-plane lattice resonances, which can be achieved by tuning the nanoparticle height or the array period due to the height-dependent magnetic resonance and the periodicity-dependent lattice resonance. The interplay between the two plasmon modes can lead to a remarkable change in resonance lineshape and an improvement on magnetic field enhancement. Simultaneous electric field and magnetic field enhancement can be obtained in the gap region between neighboring particles at two resonance frequencies as the interplay occurs, which presents “open” cavities as electromagnetic field hot spots for potential applications on detection and sensing. The results not only offer an attractive way to tune the optical responses of plasmonic nanostructure, but also provide further insight into the plasmon interactions in periodic nanostructure or metamaterials comprising multiple elements.     

Microwave Photonic Up- and Down-Converter with Tunable Phase Shift Based on an Integrated Dual-Polarization Dual-Parallel Mach–Zehnder Modulator without Optically Filtering

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we propose and numerically simulate a microwave photonic phase-tunable frequency converter (MPPTFC) without optically filtering to realize both frequency up- and down-conversion and a full 360° phase-shift for the microwave signal based on an integrated dual-polarization dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator (DP-DPMZM). In the proposed scheme, both microwave RF signal and frequency-tunable local oscillator (LO) are modulated on the lightwave by single-sideband carrier suppression (SSB-CS) modulation to generate optical orthogonally polarized optical tones carrying RF signal with up- or down-converted frequency. A PolM that can support lightwave modulation with opposite modulation indices in transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) modes is used to introduce a phase difference between the two modes. Then the orthogonally polarized optical tones are aligned into a single polarized state by a polarizer (Pol) and detected by a photodiode (PD), a frequency-converted and phase-shifted microwave signal can be obtained. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed MPPTFC can up-/down-convert the microwave signal with a tunable frequency shift of LO frequency and realize a 360° continuously tunable phase shift via the DC bias voltage of the PolM simultaneously.     

熔石英和磷酸盐钕玻璃表面三角形微裂纹对入射光的散射分析

 采用时域有限差分方法(FDTD)模拟了石英玻璃和掺钕磷酸盐激光玻璃表面三角形微裂纹对入射光调制后的分布。TE模式光波入射,最大调制电场幅值出现在玻璃体内部;TM模式光波入射,最大调制电场幅值则发生在裂纹的缝隙中。两种入射光模式下,后表面的调制电场幅值增大倍数在相同裂纹条件下均比前表面大。TE模式入射时,当入射光在裂纹和玻璃表面相继发生全反射时,得到的调制电场幅值最大;后表面最大调制电场幅值随着裂纹在界面投影长度的增加、开口宽度的变大及裂纹深度的增加而分别增大。