An NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) probe head has a microwave resonator with at least two elements which are reflective in the microwave range, at least one of which is focusing. The reflective elements at least partly delimit a resonance volume of the microwave resonator. At least one of the reflective elements is a DBR (Distributed Bragg Reflector), and the NMR probe head has at least one NMR coil integrated into the DBR. The NMR detection coil can thereby be positioned particularly near to the sample and the distortions of the static field by resonator components are reduced, such that the detection sensitivity and the spectral resolution of the experiment are significantly improved.

An NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) probe head has a microwave resonator with at least two elements which are reflective in the microwave range, at least one of which is focusing. The reflective elements at least partly delimit a resonance volume of the microwave resonator. At least one of the reflective elements is a DBR (Distributed Bragg Reflector), and the NMR probe head has at least one NMR coil integrated into the DBR. The NMR detection coil can thereby be positioned particularly near to the sample and the distortions of the static field by resonator components are reduced, such that the detection sensitivity and the spectral resolution of the experiment are significantly improved.

An object is to provide a method for enhancing a nuclear spin polarization. Triplet DNP where a pentacene derivative represented by the following formula (A) is used as a polarizing agent enables an effective enhancement in nuclear spin polarization to be achieved. In formula (A), each R independently represents a hydrogen atom (H), a deuterium atom (-D), or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which optionally includes at least one atom selected from the group consisting of an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom and a silicon atom, provided that at least one R represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which optionally includes at least one atom selected from the group consisting of an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom and a silicon atom.

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An object is to provide a method for enhancing a nuclear spin polarization. Triplet DNP where a pentacene derivative represented by the following formula (A) is used as a polarizing agent enables an effective enhancement in nuclear spin polarization to be achieved. In formula (A), each R independently represents a hydrogen atom (H), a deuterium atom (-D), or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which optionally includes at least one atom selected from the group consisting of an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom and a silicon atom, provided that at least one R represents a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms which optionally includes at least one atom selected from the group consisting of an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom and a silicon atom.

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A method for the preparation of a highly polarized nuclear spins containing sample of an organic or inorganic material, containing H or OH groups or adsorbed water molecules. Such highly polarized nuclear spins containing samples can be subjected to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurement and/or can be thawed and immediately administered to an individual undergoing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The method is based on generating unstable radicals on the surface of the sample in the presence of ionized environment followed by cooling the sample to cryogenic temperatures. A device for carrying out a particular step of said method is also discloses.

A method for the preparation of a highly polarized nuclear spins containing sample of an organic or inorganic material, containing H or OH groups or adsorbed water molecules. Such highly polarized nuclear spins containing samples can be subjected to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurement and/or can be thawed and immediately administered to an individual undergoing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The method is based on generating unstable radicals on the surface of the sample in the presence of ionized environment followed by cooling the sample to cryogenic temperatures. A device for carrying out a particular step of said method is also discloses.

Polarizable diamond materials and methods for obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of samples external to the diamond materials are described. The diamond materials can include .sup.12C, .sup.13C, substitutional nitrogen, and nitrogen vacancy defects in a crystalline lattice, wherein the substitutional nitrogen concentration is between 10 ppm and 200 ppm, the nitrogen vacancy concentration is between 10 ppb and 10 ppm, and the .sup.13C concentration is greater than 1.1% and not more than 25%. Methods for obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance spectra can include optically pumping a diamond material to generate electron spin hyperpolarization in nitrogen vacancy centers, transferring the electron spin hyperpolarization to nuclei of the sample, and generating a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum by applying a magnetic field to the sample, exciting the sample with a radio frequency pulse, and detecting a nuclear magnetic resonance response from the sample.

A method of hyperpolarisation of nuclear spins in one or more particle(s) moving relatively to a polarisation structure, wherein a polarisation of electron spins in the polarisation structure is transferred to the nuclear spins in the particle(s), wherein for one or more of the moving particle(s) within 20 nm from a surface of the polarisation structure, the correlation time of the interaction with the nearest polarisation structure electron spin due to the molecular motion is larger than the inverse of the nuclear Larmor frequency; the electron spins in the polarisation structure are polarised above thermal equilibrium; and the polarisation transfer is performed resonantly.

A method of hyperpolarisation of nuclear spins in one or more particle(s) moving relatively to a polarisation structure, wherein a polarisation of electron spins in the polarisation structure is transferred to the nuclear spins in the particle(s), wherein for one or more of the moving particle(s) within 20 nm from a surface of the polarisation structure, the correlation time of the interaction with the nearest polarisation structure electron spin due to the molecular motion is larger than the inverse of the nuclear Larmor frequency; the electron spins in the polarisation structure are polarised above thermal equilibrium; and the polarisation transfer is performed resonantly.

A system and method performing a medical imaging process includes arranging a subject to receive solution comprising nanodiamonds, performing an MRI imaging process to acquire data from the subject, and reconstructing the data to generate a report indicating a spatial distribution of nanodiamonds in the subject.