Measurement of nuclear magnetic spin-lattice relaxation times by the use of repetitive sweep techniques

Abstract

A simple analysis of the behaviour of a spin system under the influence of a series of sweeps through resonance with moderately high r.f. field strengths show that nuclear magnetic spin-lattice relaxation times may be determined from the “progressive saturation” of the magnetisation, initially at thermal equilibrium, as it approaches a partially saturated constant value. The method shows advantages in sensitivity and resolution over other sweep methods, and is applied to the measurement of the relaxation time of natural abundance ¹³C satellite lines in methylene dichloride.