Influence of the lens effect in a sample with large dielectric constant in a loop-gap resonator on the EPR signal intensity at 700 MHz

The influence of the lens effect on the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal intensity was investigated in a loop-gap resonator (LGR) with an inner diameter of 41 mm. TheQ- value and EPR signal intensity were measured when the phantoms containing 3-carbamoyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-pyrrolidin-l-yloxy dissolved in sodium chloride aqueous solutions were put in the LGR. TheQ- value and signal intensity reduced with increasing concentrations of sodium chloride in the phantom, indicating that the imaginary part of the dielectric constant is larger in the phantom with the higher concentration of sodium chloride. However, relationships betweenQ-values of the resonator and EPR signal intensities were not proportional and signal intensities were relatively higher compared with theQ-values. These findings suggest that the signal reduction due to lowQ is slightly compensated by the lens effect in the sample with the large real part of the dielectric constant. In the distribution of the signal intensities of a pinpoint sample made of diphenylpicrylhydrazyl in the agar medium containing sodium chloride in the LGR, it was found that the signal intensity decreased according to the distance from the center and the difference in the signal intensity within 10 mm from the center was about 20%, indicating the inhomogeneity of the alternating magnetic field at the center and marginal region in the sample with the large dielectric constant caused by the lens effect.     

Active compensation of rf-pulse transients

A new approach to compensate rf-pulse transients is proposed. Based on the idea of the response theory of a linear system, a formula is derived to obtain the required excitation voltage profile back from the intended target rf-pulse shape. The validity of the formula is experimentally confirmed by monitoring the rf-field created inside the sample coil with a pickup coil. Since this approach realizes accurate rf-pulse shapes without reducing the Q-factor of the tank circuit of the probe, it can be used not only to suppress the transient tail of the rf-pulse, but also as a general concept for accurate rf-pulsing.     

Autoinjection of Single-Pulse Priming Radiation in a Laser with a Bifurcated Anisotropic Resonator

The optical schemes of lasers with autoinjection of priming radiation in a bifurcated anisotropic resonator are described that make it possible to increase the efficiency of the formation of highly coherent giant pulses by raising the priming radiation intensity level. The parameters of radiation of that kind of ruby lasers have been experimentally studied with Q-switching of a low Q resonator by a bleaching filter and electrooptical switching of the generation channel into the resonator with a higher Q and/or the gain coefficient of an active element, and/or the active material space factor of the resonator.     

Coarse and Fine Control of the EPR Frequency of a Loop-Gap Resonator Using a Single-Turn Coil with a Varactor Diode Attached

Coarse control and fine control of the resonant frequency of a loop-gap resonator (LGR) operating at an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) frequency of ca. 650 MHz were achieved using a single-turn coil with a varactor diode attached (a frequency shift coil). When the distance between the LGR and the frequency shift coil was changed from 15 to 10 mm under the condition of constant voltage to the varactor diode (0 V), a shift of the resonant frequency of the LGR of ca. 20 MHz was observed (coarse frequency control). When the voltage applied to the varactor diode was changed from 0 to 15 V at the same distance between the LGR and the frequency shift coil (10 mm), a shift of the resonant frequency of the LGR of ca. 200 kHz was observed (fine frequency control). There were no significant changes in sensitivity of EPR measurements of a phantom (comprised of agar with a nitroxide radical and physiological saline solution) without and with the frequency shift coil. The EPR sensitivity did not change discernibly when the resonant frequency was shifted by the frequency shift coil. Furthermore, radio-frequency phase adjustment for homodyne detection could be performed by using the frequency shift coil without applying frequency modulation to the carrier wave.     

ESR spectroscopy at 75 GHz by using a whispering gallery mode dielectric resonator and an electromagnet: Part I

Disc-shaped Whispering Gallery Mode (WGM) dielectric resonators were used to obtain ESR spectra of powder samples at 75 GHz. A mechanically and electronically controlled Gunn diode was used while the static magnetic fieldB ₀ was obtained by modifying a Bruker electromagnet. WGM resonators having a diameter of 30 mm were prevalently used. The samples were contained in polyethylene holders suitably designed so that the resonator could retain its original circular symmetry and the sample could stay as close as possible to the curved outer rim of the resonator.Q-factors of the order of 10⁴ were obtained at room temperature when single crystal quartz was used for the disc resonator. Anyway, the value ofQ could be easily controlled by using different materials for the WGM disc. The gained experience allows one to foresee that WGM resonators can be used with similar results also at frequencies up to 150 and 300 GHz. ESR spectra of many organic and inorganic samples will be reported in Part II of this paper. Here, an evaluation is made of the intensity of the electromagnetic field on a selected sample. Suitable holders for liquid samples are under study.     

High Q calcium titanate cylindrical dielectric resonators for magnetic resonance microimaging

At high magnetic fields radiation losses, wavelength effects, self-resonance, and the high resistance of typical components all contribute to increased losses in conventional RF coil designs. High permittivity ceramic dielectric resonators create strong uniform magnetic fields in a compact structure at high frequencies and can potentially solve some of the challenges of high field coil design. In this study an NMR probe was constructed for operation at 600 MHz (14.1 T) using an inductively fed CaTiO₃ (relative permittivity of 156) cylindrical hollow bore dielectric resonator. The design has an unmatched Q value greater than 2000, and the electric field is largely confined to the dielectric itself, with near zero values in the hollow bore which accommodates the sample. Experimental and simulation mapping of the RF field show good agreement, with the ceramic resonator giving a pulse width approximately 25% less than a loop gap resonator of similar inner dimensions. High resolution images, with voxel dimensions less than 50 μm³, have been acquired from fixed zebrafish samples, showing excellent delineation of several fine structures.     

Application of time-variable feedback to the input amplifier of pulse magnetic resonance spectrometers: Experimental studies

Experimental research on the improvement of the sensitivity and time resolution of pulsed magnetic resonance spectrometers is discussed. It is shown that application of a time-variable feedback of a signal to the input of the receiver amplifier can decouple, the “fixed” relationship between the quality factorQ and the ringdown time of the resonance system. Experiments were performed with low-frequency, radio-frequency and microwave pulse-type magnetic resonance receivers. Modifications of an S/C-band electron spin echo modulation spectrometer carried out to check the “time-variable feedback” performance are described. It is demonstrated that the application of a time-variable feedback can significantly reduce the ringdown time and improve the recovery properties of the magnetic resonance receiver system. It is also demonstrated that the time-variable feedback can improve the overall receiver sensitivity due to the fact that the working bandwidth of the resonance system can be optimized separately for the transmitting and the receiving mode. Signal values could be increased at least three times and the signal-to-noise ratio about 1.5–2 times. The largest improvement is achieved with the initially overcoupled resonator. Experimental spectra of test samples for different settings of the time-variable feedback are shown.     

Sensitivity of surface resistance measurement of HTS thin films by cavity resonator, dielectric resonator and microstrip line resonator

Microwave surface resistance (R _s) of silver-doped YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ (YBCO) thin film, deposited by laser ablation technique on 10 mm × 10 mm LaAlO₃ substrate, has been measured by resonant techniques in the frequency range from 5 GHz to 20 GHz. The geometrical factor of the sample and the resonator has been determined theoretically by the knowledge of the electromagnetic field distribution in the resonators. The microwave surface resistance of the superconducting sample is then extracted from the measured Q value as a function of temperature. The sensitivity of the R _s measurement, that is, the relative change in the Q value with the change in the R _s value is determined for each resonator.     

A Simple Method for Measuring the Q Value of an NMR Sample Coil

A simple method for measuring the Q (quality factor) value of an NMR sample coil based on an impedance matching principle is described. This method has the advantage of utilizing a signal generator and reflection coefficient bridge rather than an expensive high-frequency Q meter and offers an alternative means of measuring the Q value of an NMR sample coil or any other radio frequency coil.     

On the application of radio frequency voltages to ion traps via helical resonators

Ions confined using a Paul trap require a stable, high voltage and low noise radio frequency (RF) potential. We present a guide for the design and construction of a helical coil resonator for a desired frequency that maximises the quality factor for a set of experimental constraints. We provide an in-depth analysis of the system formed from a shielded helical coil and an ion trap by treating the system as a lumped element model. This allows us to predict the resonant frequency and quality factor in terms of the physical parameters of the resonator and the properties of the ion trap. We also compare theoretical predictions with experimental data for different resonators, and predict the voltage applied to the ion trap as a function of the Q factor, input power and the properties of the resonant circuit.     

High-Q series coupled microstrip split-ring resonator device

A quarter wavelength high-Q resonator based on the well-known split-ring resonator (SRR) element in series configuration on a microstrip line is proposed in this letter. The small size is achieved by working at the quasi-static resonant frequency of the SRR. A relatively high value of unloaded-Q of 137 is achieved, which is considerably higher than other microstrip resonators like closed-loop resonators. An equivalent lumped-element circuit model for this new resonator and the ground plane influence in the unloaded-Q particle are studied. A good agreement between simulation, equivalent circuit, and experimental results is shown and discussed, leading to a simple and effective design.     

Coupling of waveguide and resonator by inductive and capacitive irises for EPR spectroscopy

An analytic circuit model for slot coupling from a waveguide to a loop-gap resonator (LGR) in a context of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is presented. The physical dimensions of the waveguide, iris, LGR, and aqueous sample are transformed into circuit values of inductance, capacitance, and resistance. These values are used in a solution of circuit equations that results in a prediction of the radio frequency (rf) currents, magnitude and phase, frequency, and magnetic and electric stored energies near the critical coupling. The circuit geometry reflects magnetic flux conservation between the iris and LGR as well as modification of the outer loop LGR currents by the iris. Unlike conventional models, coupling is not explicitly based on a mutual inductance between the iris and LGR. Instead, the conducting wall high-frequency rf boundary condition is used to define surface currents, regions, and circuit topology with lumped-circuit values of self-inductance, capacitance, and resistance. Match is produced by a combination of self-inductive and capacitive circuit coupling. Two conditions must be met to achieve match. First, the equivalent resistance of the LGR as seen by the iris must be transformed into the waveguide characteristic impedance. This transformation is met at a particular frequency relative to the natural LGR resonance frequency. The frequency shift magnitude is largely determined by the LGR properties, weakly dependent on the iris length and placement, and independent of other iris dimensions. The second condition for match is that the iris reactance at this frequency shift must cancel the residual reactance of the LGR. This second condition is sensitive to the iris dimensions. If both conditions are not simultaneously satisfied, overcoupling or undercoupling results. A slotted iris with a length equal to the size of the large dimension of the waveguide is found to have many properties opposite to a conventional iris with shorter length. Notably, the magnetic field near the iris tends to reinforce rather than oppose the magnetic field in the resonator. The long iris improves the LGR EPR performance by providing increased rf magnetic field homogeneity at the sample, higher signal, and reduced total frequency shift since the shifts due to sample and iris tend to cancel. Investigations reveal that the first match condition can be adjusted by LGR dimensional changes and such adjustment can eliminate the frequency shift. Results are consistent with Ansoft High Frequency Structure Simulator (Version 10.1, Ansoft Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA) simulations and can be extended to cavity resonators.     

Two Dimensional Rotational Temperature Measurement by Multiline Laser Induced Fluorescence of Nitric Oxide in Combustion Flame

Two-dimensional rotational temperature measurement was performed in a stable combustion flame of premixed butane and oxygen using multiline laser induced fluorescence (LIF) of nitric oxide molecules. Multiple rotational absorption lines of A²∑⁺Π;X²II(0,0) Q₁ and Q₂ lines were excited by laser light around 226 nm, and the LIF signal was observed by an image-intensified digital camera. Temperature was determined through least squares fitting correlation between LIF intensity and excitation rotational quantum number for the Boltzmann distribution function. The measured LIF intensity was approximated by the Boltzmann distribution with good accuracy, and the temperature obtained was between 500 K and 1800 K for the test flame. The measuring error of the temperature was evaluated and found to be 80 K, which corresponded to 8% of the measured fluorescence intensity. The two-line LIF scheme was evaluated by different pairs of excitation lines (Q₁(31.5)/Q₁(16.5) and Q₁(18.5)/Q₁(16.5)) for comparison with the multiline LIF approach. Temperature which was obtained by two-line LIF scheme corresponded well with multiline LIF results for Q₁(31.5)/Q₁(16.5) excitation. However, for Q₁(18.5)/Q₁(16.5) excitation, the obtained temperature did not agree with the multiline LIF result because the population of rotational states J=18.5 and J=16.5 is similar at high temperatures. We found that two-line LIF temperature measurement was reliable when excitation lines were suitably selected.     

High-Bandwidth Q-Band EPR Resonators

The emerging technology of ultra-wide-band spectrometers in electron paramagnetic resonance—enabled by recent technological advances—provides the means for new experimental schemes, a broader range of samples, and huge gains in measurement time. Broadband detection does, however, require that the resonator provides sufficient bandwidth and, despite resonator compensation schemes, excitation bandwidth is ultimately limited by resonator bandwidth. Here, we present the design of three resonators for Q-band frequencies (33–36 GHz) with a larger bandwidth than what was reported so far. The new resonators are of a loop-gap type with 4–6 loops and were designed for 1.6 mm sample tubes to achieve higher field homogeneity than in existing resonators for 3 mm samples, a feature that is beneficial for precise spin control. The loop-gap design provides good separation of the B ₁ and E field, enabling robust modes with powder samples as well as with frozen water samples as the resonant behavior is largely independent of the dielectric properties of the samples. Experiments confirm the trends in bandwidth and field strength and the increased B ₁ field homogeneity predicted by the simulations. Variation of the position of the coupling rod allows the adjustment of the quality factor Q and thus the bandwidth over a broad range. The increased bandwidth of the loop-gap resonators was exploited in double electron–electron resonance measurements of a Cu(II)-PyMTA ruler to yield significantly higher modulation depth and thus higher sensitivity.     

Millimeter wave investigation of dielectric cylinders absorption cross-section by resonant method

A new millimeter wave resonant method for determination of absorption cross-section of vegetation stalks is given. The method is developed for study of vegetation stalks absorption cross-section as a function of their moisture content, orkR parameter (k is a wave number, R is a stalk radius) in millimeter wavelengths band. ModesE _01p of a cylinder resonator are employed for such measurements. Dielectric permittivity and loss tangent of a sample can be found by measuring a frequency shift andQ- factor changes of the resonator. Absorption cross-section of a sample is then calculated using a formula obtained in our theoretical study. This formula can be written analytically as a result of rigorous solution of the related diffraction problem (scattering of a plane electromagnetic wave by cylinder with complex dielectric permittivity if stalk radius is less then 0.5 mm for the wavelength of 8 mm).Results of this investigation may be used in creating electrodynamical models of media containing cylindrical stalks of plants, in direct measurements of some canopy parameters, transmission properties measurements of vegetation canopies etc.     

Advanced theory of driven birdcage resonator with losses for biomedical magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy

A complete time-dependent physics theory of symmetric unperturbed driven hybrid birdcage resonator was developed for general application. In particular, the theory can be applied for radiofrequency (RF) coil engineering, computer simulations of coil-sample interaction, etc. Explicit time dependence is evaluated for different forms of driving voltage. The major steps of the solution development are shown and appropriate explanations are given. Green's functions and spectral density formula were developed for any form of periodic driving voltage. The concept of distributed power losses based on transmission line theory is developed for evaluation of local losses of a coil. Three major types of power losses are estimated as equivalent series resistances in the circuit of the birdcage resonator. Values of generated resistances in legs and end-rings are estimated. An application of the theory is shown for many practical cases. Experimental curve of B₁ field polarization dependence is measured for eight-sections birdcage coil. It was shown that the steady-state driven resonance frequencies do not depend on damping factor unlike the free oscillation (transient) frequencies. An equivalent active resistance is generated due to interaction of RF electromagnetic field with a sample. Resistance of the conductor (enhanced by skin effect), Eddy currents and dielectric losses are the major types of losses which contribute to the values of generated resistances. A biomedical sample for magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy is the source of the both Eddy current and dielectric losses of a coil. As demonstrated by the theory, Eddy current loss is the major effect of coil shielding.     

Determination of absolute concentration of nitroxide radical by radio-frequency EPR imaging

The absolute concentrations of a nitroxide radical in samples in a loop-gap resonator (LGR) were determined by using a radio-frequency (about 720 MHz) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) imaging system. EPR imaging of phantoms containing a nitroxide radical, 3-carbamoyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidin-1-yloxy (carbamoyl-PROXYL), dissolved in various concentrations of an aqueous sodium chloride solution was made to investigate the influence of dielectric losses and sample position within the LGR. As it was found that these influences on the signal intensity were sufficiently small (less than 6%), it is possible to use identical radical solutions in which the radical is dissolved in a known concentration as an internal marker. Two phantoms containing aqueous solutions of 3 mM (as a marker) and 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 mM (as a sample) carbamoyl-PROXYL were placed together in the LGR. From EPR images of these phantoms, the absolute concentration of the sample could be calculated by using the gray-scale value (i.e., the signal intensity) of the marker and sample within a small margin of error (about 4%).     

Development of a Resonator with Automatic Tuning and Coupling Capability to Minimize Sample Motion Noise for in Vivo EPR Spectroscopy

EPR spectroscopy has been applied to measure free radicals in vivo; however, respiratory, cardiac, and other movements of living animals are a major source of noise and spectral distortion. Sample motions result in changes in resonator frequency, Q, and coupling. These instabilities limit the applications that can be performed and the quality of data that can be obtained. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop resonators with automatic tuning and automatic coupling capability. We report the development of automatic tuning and automatic coupling provisions for a 750-MHz transversely oriented electric field reentrant resonator using two electronically tunable high Q hyperabrupt varactor diodes and feedback loops. In both moving phantoms and living mice, these automatic coupling control and automatic tuning control provisions resulted in an 8- to 10-fold increase in signal-to-noise ratio.     

Piezoelectric resonators with mechanical damping and resistance in current conduction

A novel design method for high Q piezoelectric resonators was presented and proposed using the 3-D equations of linear piezoelectricity with quasi-electrostatic approximation which include losses attributed to mechanical damping in solid and resistance in current conduction. There is currently no finite element sofware for estimating the Q of a resonator without apriori assumptions of the resonator impedance or damping. There is a necessity for better and more realistic modeling of resonators and filters due to miniaturization and the rapid advances in frequency ranges in telecommunication. We presented new three-dimensional finite element models of quartz and barium titanate resonators with mechanical damping and resistance in current conduction. Lee, Liu and Ballato’s 3-D equations of linear piezoelectricity with quasi-electrostatic approximation which include losses attributed to mechanical damping in solid and resistance in current conduction were formulated in a weak form and implemented in COMSOL. The resulting finite element model could predict the Q and other electrical parameters for any piezoelectric resonator without apriori assumptions of damping or resistance. Forced and free vibration analyses were performed and the results for the Q and other electrical parameters were obtained. Comparisons of the Q and other electrical parameters obtained from the free vibration analysis with their corresponding values from the forced vibration analysis were found to be in excellent agreement. Hence, the frequency spectra obtained from the free vibration analysis could be used for designing high Q resonators. Results for quartz thickness shear AT-cut and SC-cut resonators and thickness stretch poled barium titanate resonators were presented. An unexpected benefit of the model was the prediction of resonator Q with energy losses via the mounting supports.     

Effect of RF coil excitation on field inhomogeneity at ultra high fields: a field optimized TEM resonator

In this work, computational methods were utilized to optimize the field produced by the transverse electromagnetic (TEM) resonator in the presence of the human head at 8 Tesla. Optimization was achieved through the use of the classical finite difference time domain (FDTD) method and a TEM resonator loaded with an anatomically detailed human head model with a resolution of 2 mm × 2 mm × 2 mm. The head model was developed from 3D MR images. To account for the electromagnetic interactions between the coil and the tissue, the coil and the head were treated as a single system at all the steps of the model including, numerical tuning and excitation. In addition to 2, 3, 4, 6, and 10-port excitations, an antenna array concept was utilized by driving all the possible ports (24) of a 24-strut TEM resonator. The results show that significant improvement in the circularly polarized component of the transverse magnetic field could be obtained when using multiple ports and variable phase and fixed magnitude, or variable phase and variable magnitude excitations.