High field dynamic nuclear polarization—the renaissance

Sensitivity is a critical issue in NMR spectroscopy, microscopy and imaging, and the factor that often limits the success of various applications. The origin of low sensitivity in NMR is well known to be due to the small magnetic moment of nuclear spins, which yields small Boltzmann polarizations and weak absorption signals. Historically, each advance in technology and methodology that has increased the signal-to-noise in NMR has shifted the boundary of what is achievable, often opening new areas of application and directions of research. The archetypal example of this phenomenon was the introduction of Fourier transform spectroscopy which led to increases of ~10[superscript 2]-fold in signal-to-noise, revolutionizing NMR and many other forms of spectroscopy. More recent technological developments of note include the continuing development of higher field superconducting magnets which increases polarization, and cryoprobes in which the excitation/detection coil is maintained at low temperatures increasing sensitivity through a higher probe Q and decreasing receiver noise. In addition, innovations in NMR methodology have improved sensitivity, classic examples being Hartmann–Hahn cross polarization, and J-coupling meditated transfer methods, and the introduction of 1H detection of [superscript 13]C/[superscript 15]N resonances. Furthermore, techniques for non-inductive detection of resonance, such as the AFM-based technique of magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM), have recently allowed observation of a single electron spin, and ~100 nuclear spins/√Hz[superscript 8]

Pulsed Dynamic Nuclear Polarization with Trityl Radicals

Continuous-wave (CW) dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is now established as a method of choice to enhance the sensitivity in a variety of NMR experiments. Nevertheless, there remains a need for the development of more efficient methods to transfer polarization from electrons to nuclei. Of particular interest are pulsed DNP methods because they enable a rapid and efficient polarization transfer that, in contrast with CW DNP methods, is not attenuated at high magnetic fields. Here we report nuclear spin orientation via electron spin-locking (NOVEL) experiments using the polarizing agent trityl OX063 in glycerol/water at a temperature of 80 K and a magnetic field of 0.34 T. [superscript 1]H NMR signal enhancements up to 430 are observed, and the buildup of the local polarization occurs in a few hundred nanoseconds. Thus, NOVEL can efficiently dynamically polarize [superscript 1]H atoms in a system that is of general interest to the solid-state DNP NMR community. This is a first, important step toward the general application of pulsed DNP at higher fields.National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (U.S.) (Grants EB-002026 and EB-002804)Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (Rubicon Fellowship

Observation of strongly forbidden solid effect dynamic nuclear polarization transitions via electron-electron double resonance detected NMR

We present electron paramagnetic resonance experiments for which solid effect dynamic nuclear polarization transitions were observed indirectly via polarization loss on the electron. This use of indirect observation allows characterization of the dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) process close to the electron. Frequency profiles of the electron-detected solid effect obtained using trityl radical showed intense saturation of the electron at the usual solid effect condition, which involves a single electron and nucleus. However, higher order solid effect transitions involving two, three, or four nuclei were also observed with surprising intensity, although these transitions did not lead to bulk nuclear polarization—suggesting that higher order transitions are important primarily in the transfer of polarization to nuclei nearby the electron. Similar results were obtained for the SA-BDPA radical where strong electron-nuclear couplings produced splittings in the spectrum of the indirectly observed solid effect conditions. Observation of high order solid effect transitions supports recent studies of the solid effect, and suggests that a multi-spin solid effect mechanism may play a major role in polarization transfer via DNP.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant EB002804)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant EB002026)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant GM095843)Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Research Fellowship CO 802/1-1

Quantum mechanical theory of dynamic nuclear polarization in solid dielectrics

Microwave driven dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is a process in which the large polarization present in an electron spin reservoir is transferred to nuclei, thereby enhancing NMR signal intensities. In solid dielectrics there are three mechanisms that mediate this transfer—the solid effect (SE), the cross effect (CE), and thermal mixing (TM). Historically these mechanisms have been discussed theoretically using thermodynamic parameters and average spin interactions. However, the SE and the CE can also be modeled quantum mechanically with a system consisting of a small number of spins and the results provide a foundation for the calculations involving TM. In the case of the SE, a single electron–nuclear spin pair is sufficient to explain the polarization mechanism, while the CE requires participation of two electrons and a nuclear spin, and can be used to understand the improved DNP enhancements observed using biradical polarizing agents. Calculations establish the relations among the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) frequencies and the microwave irradiation frequency that must be satisfied for polarization transfer via the SE or the CE. In particular, if δ, Δ < ω0I, where δ and Δ are the homogeneous linewidth and inhomogeneous breadth of the EPR spectrum, respectively, we verify that the SE occurs when ωM = ω0S ± ω0I, where ωM, ω0S and ω0I are, respectively, the microwave, and the EPR and NMR frequencies. Alternatively, when Δ > ω0I > δ, the CE dominates the polarization transfer. This two-electron process is optimized when ω0S1−ω0S2=ω0I and ωM∼ω0S1 orω0S2, where ω0S1 and ω0S2 are the EPR Larmor frequencies of the two electrons. Using these matching conditions, we calculate the evolution of the density operator from electron Zeeman order to nuclear Zeeman order for both the SE and the CE. The results provide insights into the influence of the microwave irradiation field, the external magnetic field, and the electron−electron and electron−nuclear interactions on DNP enhancements