Methods of and systems for making a hyperpolarized fluid are provided, which include exposing a fluid and parahydrogen to a catalyst. The hyperpolarized fluid can be introduced to a subject. The hyperpolarized fluid can be included in methods of imaging a subject. Also provided are methods that use the hyperpolarized fluids for detecting protein ligand interactions and for enhancing the NMR signals of biopolymers having chemically exchangeable protons.

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.

A frequency agile gyrotron for use in combination with an NMR system is disclosed. The frequency agile gyrotron combined with EPR-NMR magic angle spinning resonators and cryogenic sample cooling may increase the sensitivity of solid state NMR with DNP.

A frequency agile gyrotron for use in combination with an NMR system is disclosed. The frequency agile gyrotron combined with EPR-NMR magic angle spinning resonators and cryogenic sample cooling may increase the sensitivity of solid state NMR with DNP.

A method and system are described for imaging core samples associated with a subsurface region. The imaging results may be used to create or update a subsurface model and using the subsurface model and/or imaging results in hydrocarbon operations. The imaging techniques may include NMR imaging and CT imaging. Further, the imaging techniques may also include exposing the core sample to the imaging gas.

The nuclear spin hyperpolarization method includes the steps of: irradiating a sample, prepared by doping solid benzoic acid derivative with a pentacene derivative, placed in a space where a static magnetic field is formed by a main magnetic field forming unit, with a laser beam from a laser source; following the light irradiation, irradiating the sample with a microwave from a microwave source while applying a sweeping magnetic field; and after repeating the application of sweeping magnetic field, light irradiation and microwave irradiation, dissolving the benzoic acid derivative in the sample. This enables generation of an aqueous solution containing benzoic acid derivative of which nuclear spins are hyperpolarized.

Aspects of photonic band gap resonators for magnetic resonance are described. In one example, an apparatus includes a 1D structure having a plurality of layers. A respective thickness of the individual layers is one-quarter of a respective wavelength of a target magnetic resonance frequency within the individual layers of the plurality of layers, or a multiple thereof. A first layer has a first dielectric constant, and a second layer that is adjacent to the first layer has a second dielectric constant. A defect includes a sample. The defect has a thickness that is approximately up to one-half of a wavelength of the target magnetic resonance frequency within the defect.

The invention relates to a method for generating a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum (4) of nuclear spin moments (6) of a sample (8), comprising a static magnetic field (B) permeating the sample (8), and a detection spin moment (16) with a detection region (18) surrounding the latter, said detection region extending at least partly into the sample (8), and also an antenna element (22) for radiating in frequency pulses (F) for influencing the nuclear spin moments (6) and radio-frequency pulses (H) for influencing the detection spin moment (16), wherein a polarization step (42) involves polarizing at least one portion of the nuclear spin moments (6) along the magnetic field (B) to form a longitudinal magnetization (M.sub.z), wherein a transfer step (44) involves converting the longitudinal magnetization (M.sub.z) into a transverse magnetization (M.sub.xy) by radiating in a frequency pulse (F) with a 90 flip angle, wherein a detection step (46) involves radiating in a sequence (S) of radio-frequency pulses (H) onto the detection spin moment (16) and subsequently detecting a signal (32) of the transverse magnetization (M.sub.xy) present in the detection region (18) and storing said signal as detection result (48) in a list (50), wherein the detection step is carried out a number of times repeatedly in succession, wherein the polarization step (42) and the transfer step (44) and also the detection steps (46) are carried out repeatedly until a predefined number of repetitions (N) is reached, wherein a new list (50) with detection results (48) is generated with each repetition (N), and wherein an evaluation step (54) involves jointly evaluating the detection results (48) of the lists (50) across all repetitions (N).

The present invention relates to novel organic dinitroxide biradical compounds and their use as polarizing agents, in particular, in the techniques of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) of solids or liquid samples and medical imaging.