Optimized shaped pulses for a 2D single-frequency technique for refocusing (SIFTER)

Abstract

Fast and accurate arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs) for generating shaped pulses in electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) have been commercially available for over a decade now. However, while the use of chirp pulses as inversion pulses in pulsed electron double resonance (PELDOR) experiments has become common, their application for generating broadband phase-sensitive transverse magnetization is not widely adopted within the community. Here, we give a detailed insight into optimization procedures and instrumental challenges when using chirped pulses for broadband Fourier transform (FT) detection of electron spin echo signals, particularly the two-dimensional frequency-correlated single-frequency technique for refocusing (SIFTER) experiment. To better understand the influence of chirped pulses on the generation of broadband transverse magnetization, we investigated the phase and amplitude of chirped echoes for different time bandwidth products while varying the number of refocusing pulses, particularly under the influence of B1 inhomogeneity. Following our optimization procedures, we were able to perform EPR-correlated 2D-SIFTER measurements using rigid nitroxide spin labels on an RNA duplex. Finally, we also demonstrate the first experiments with two novel SIFTER pulse sequences, which could be of interest for the detection of either shorter or longer distances.