Nonstationary effects in nitrogen multipulsed nuclear quadrupole resonance

Multiple echoes in the envelope of the nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) signal were obtained in a field of multipulse sequences in powdered nitrogen-containing materials at room temperature. Echo signals were observed over a wide range of pulse rotation angles. It is shown that an analogue of the magic NMR echo can be obtained in the field of multipulse sequence.     

Two-frequency method for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio for nuclear quadrupole resonance14N low-frequency transitions

A method is proposed for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio during detection of NQR¹⁴N low-frequency transitions, consisting in a preliminary saturation of the _o(_–) transition before accumulation of the multiplet signals of the spin echo or induction signals, observed during the action of a series of 90 pulses on the _–(_o) transition. The gain in signal-to-noise ratio achieved by the two-frequency action is calculated theoretically, and the maximum value is found to be 3/(3 –) for _– and 3(1 + )/4 for _o. It is shown that the envelope of the induction signal for an increase in the time between the 90 pulses decreases according to one exponent for _o, while for _– and ₊ it decreases according to two exponents, and the approach to equilibrium of the system of¹⁴N nuclei is oscillatory in nature.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 11, pp. 61–64, November, 1987.     

Diffusion in nuclear quadrupole resonance

With the aid of the method of random trajectories, formulas have been obtained for the first time for diffusion damping of the amplitudes of nuclear quadrupole spin echo signals because of molecular vibration-rotation in a two-frequency four-pulse program for spin 5/2 and zero asymmetry parameter. The formulas are similar to the result of Hahn for diffusion in NMR.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 6, pp. 14–16, June, 1985.     

Direct nuclear resonance detection of second-order weak quadrupole effects

This direct method of detecting anisotropic effects of the second and higher orders in NMR systems with weak nuclear quadrupole interaction with a high signal/noise ratio, characteristic of standard NMR sweep spectroscopy, is based on orientationally modulated NMR (OM NMR). Expressions are derived to describe the observed OM NMR absorption signals and the factors determining the signal shape are analyzed. The main theoretical results are supported by experiment. Attention is drawn to the possible use of the effects under consideration for NMR analyses of crystals.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 110–115, September, 1991.     

N nuclear quadrupole resonance in the barbiturates

The ¹⁴N nuclear quadrupole resonance frequencies at 77 K are reported for several barbiturates. Differences between charge densities in the π and various σ orbitals at the nitrogen site are obtained. The charge distributions are correlated with various substituents, and are discussed with emphasis on the effects of phenyl substituents, hydrogen bonding, and formation of the sodium salt.     

Improving N nuclear quadrupole resonance detection of trinitrotoluene using off-resonance effects

The off-resonance dependence of the amplitudes of the six dominant ¹⁴N nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) lines in commercial polymorphic trinitrotoluene (TNT) sample were experimentally determined for a wide range of experimental parameters when irradiated with the spin-lock spin-echo (SLSE) pulse sequence. We find that the amplitudes off-resonance dependence follows a sinc-like function with an additional modulation due to the spacing between the RF pulses. This dependence can be very well modeled with expressions we have derived for a single site ¹⁴N NQR in paranitrotoluene (PNT). The results can be immediately used for the reduction of the number of free parameters used in the robust signal processing models for the TNT NQR detectors.     

14N nuclear quadrupole resonance in carcinostatic phosphamides

Nitrogen-14 nuclear quadrupole resonance spectra of the anti-cancer drugs cyclophosphamide monohydrate, isonphosphamide and triphosphamide have been detected at 77 K. The electron distribution in the vicinity of the nitrogens possessing trigonal bonding configurations have been calculated in the framework of the Townes and Dailey theory.     

Composite pulse trains for nuclear quadrupole resonance

In the present work, a multipulse train comprising {±^0°|2^90°-τ-±^180°|2^90°} and {±^0°|2^90°-τ-±^0°|2^270°} composite pulses is suggested for the observation of nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) signals from remote objects. It is shown that these pulse trains provide efficient separation of interference signals in the multipulse train, which allows conditions of NQR signal storage for detecting explosives to be improved. Kaliningrad State University. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 54–57, September, 1999.     

Revision of spin echoes in pure nuclear quadrupole resonance

Goldman's spin-1/2 formalism has been used for describing the response of an I=3/2 spin system to a two-pulse sequence in a pure nuclear quadrupole resonance experiment. A detailed analysis of the polarization evolution and quadrupolar echo generation is carried out through the use of explicit expressions for secular homo- and heteronuclear dipolar interactions. In striking contrast with previous studies, it is predicted that Van Vleck's second moments governing a classical solid-echo or Hahn sequence differ from those obtained by equivalent means in magnetic resonance. In fact, it is shown that, although measured moments still complement each other, the combined use of standard sequences does not allow the separate determination of homo- and heteronuclear dipolar contributions to the linewidth, not even in an indirect manner. In this context, the importance and potential usefulness of a crossed coil probe are also briefly discussed.     

Crossed-coil detection of two-photon excited nuclear quadrupole resonance

Applying a recently developed theoretical framework for determining two-photon excitation Hamiltonians using average Hamiltonian theory, we calculate the excitation produced by half-resonant irradiation of the pure quadrupole resonance of a spin-3/2 system. This formalism provides expressions for the single-quantum and double-quantum mutation frequencies as well as the Bloch-Siegert shift. The dependence of the excitation strength on RF field orientation and the appearance of the free-induction signal along an axis perpendicular to the excitation field provide an unmistakable signature of two-photon excitation. We demonstrate single- and double-quantum excitation in an axially symmetric system using 35Cl in a single crystal of potassium chlorate (omega(Q) = 28 MHz) with crossed-coil detection. A rotation plot verifies the orientation dependence of the two-photon excitation, and double-quantum coherences are observed directly with the application of a static external magnetic field.     

Emission of nuclear quadrupole resonance from polycrystalline hexamethylenetetramine

The angular dependence of the nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) signal intensity emitted from polycrystalline hexamethylenetetramine has been analytically investigated for all directions for non-contact detection of chemicals by nuclear quadrupole resonance. The field pattern of the NQR signal from a column sample was measured. The emitted patterns were the same as that from a united single magnetic dipole, which fitted well to the estimation based on quadrupole principle axis system. This result is helpful to design an antenna for NQR remote detection.     

Noise-resilient multi-frequency surface sensor for nuclear quadrupole resonance

A planar nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) sensor has been developed. The sensor is resilient to environmental noise and is capable of simultaneous independent multi-frequency operation. The device was constructed as an open multimodal birdcage structure, in which the higher modes, generally not used in magnetic resonance, are utilized for NQR detection. These modes have smooth distributions of the amplitudes of the corresponding radiofrequency magnetic fields everywhere along the sensor’s surface. The phases of the fields, on the other hand, are cyclically shifted across the sensor’s surface. Noise signals coming from distant sources, therefore, induce equal-magnitude cyclically phase-shifted currents in different parts of the sensor. When such cyclically phase-shifted currents arrive at the mode connection point, they destructively interfere with each other and are cancelled out. NQR signals of polycrystalline or disordered substances, however, are efficiently detected by these modes because they are insensitive to the phases of the excitation/detection. No blind spots exist along the sensor’s surface. The sensor can be used for simultaneous detection of one or more substances in locations with environmental noise.     

The two-frequency nuclear quadrupole resonance for explosives detection

The two-frequency nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) of¹⁴N nuclei is described for purposes of explosives detection. Two applications are known: two-frequency NQR for increasing the signal intensity, two-frequency NQR for improved reliability of explosives detection. The two-frequency experiments were carried out in hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-s-triazine C₃H₆N₆O₆ and sodium nitrite NaNO₂ as a substitute for octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocycine C₄H₈N₈O₈. The two-frequency sequences for NQR are proposed for increasing the amplitude of NQR signal and improvement of detection condition.     

Remote detection of double nuclear quadrupole resonance spectra

Remote detection of the spectra of double nuclear quadrupole resonance of nitrogen-containing compounds is considered. A comparison is made of this technique with the cross-relaxation method.