Operator formalisms: An overview

Abstract

AbstractOperator formalisms are mathematical recipes for simplifying the manipulations of the density matrix. Because the density matrix is a vital tool in describing and analyzing magnetic resonance experiments, many approaches have been developed. This article gives an overview of a number of different methods: spherical tensors, fictitious spin‐1/2, single‐transition operators, product operators, superspin methods, and others. In principle, they all must give the same answer, because an exact description of magnetic resonance phenomena is usually within reach. The choice of the formalism for the user, therefore, depends on various personal decisions. Among these decisions is the choice between spherical and Cartesian tensors, between Hilbert space and Liouville space, between commutators and matrix elements, and so on. We do not go into the details of any of the formalisms but rather try to compare their approaches at a fairly general level. The quadrupolar echo pulse sequence is used as an example of the application of the formalisms. The aim of this overview is to give readers enough of a picture so that they can make an intelligent choice for themselves. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part A 28A: 369–383, 2006