Regensburg 2010 – scientific programme

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ST: Fachverband Strahlen- und Medizinphysik

ST 6: SYMR (CPP and ST): Nuclear Magnetic Resonance: From Applications in Condensed Matter Physics to New Frontiers

ST 6.4: Invited Talk

Tuesday, March 23, 2010, 11:15–11:45, H1

Big times for small NMR — •Bernhard Blümich — RWTH Aachen University, ITMC, Worringerweg 1, D-52056 Aachen, Germany

NMR is most widely known for diagnostic imaging in medicine and molecular analysis in chemistry. The measurement procedure requires magnetic fields and radio-frequency waves. The largest component of an NMR machine is the magnet. While the electronics are shrinking noticeably over the years, the magnets become bigger as higher field strength is realized. Small magnets can be built from permanent magnet material at field strengths common four decades ago. Recent advances in magnet design have led to desktop magnets and miniature magnets that surround the sample in the conventional way and in magnets that accommodate the object in the stray field for relaxation analysis, imaging, and high-resolution spectroscopy. Such magnets are inexpensive and portable. Their availability makes a diversity of studies possible, which are out of question for high-field super-conducting magets. These are high-throughput analysis by parallel operation of many spectrometers, in-line monitoring with long-time use of an NMR machine in one application, NMR analysis at the site of the object, and NMR analysis in dangerous environments. The advances in building small NMR magnets are summarized, and the use of small-scale NMR devices is demonstrated with applications to chemical engineering, medicine, and materials testing.