NMR signal averaging in 62 T pulsed fields

Abstract

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) experiments in pulsed high magnetic fields up to 62 T at the Dresden High Magnetic Field Laboratory ( Hochfeld-Magnetlabor Dresden) are reported. The time dependence of the magnetic field is investigated by observing various free induction decays (FIDs) in the vicinity of the maximum of the field pulse. By analyzing each FID’s phase and its evolution with time the magnetic field’s time dependence can be determined with high precision. Assuming a quadratic or cubic dependence on time near the field maximum its confidence is found to be better than ±0.03 ppm at low fields and ±0.8 ppm near 62 T. In turn, the thus obtained time dependence of the field can be used to demodulate and phase-correct all FIDs so that they appear phase-locked to each other. As a consequence signal averaging is possible. The increase in signal-to-noise ratio is found to be close to that expected theoretically. This shows that the intrinsic time dependence of the pulsed fields can be removed so that the NMR signals appear to be taken at rather stable static field. This opens up the possibility of performing precise shift measurements and signal averaging also of unknown, weak signals if a reference signal is measured during the same field pulse with a double-resonance probe.