Classroom nuclear magnetic resonance system

Abstract

A low-field classroom NMR system was developed that will enable hands-on learning of NMR and MRI concepts in a Biological Engineering laboratory course. A permanent magnet system was built to produce a static field of B0 = 0.133 Tesla. A single coil is used in a resonant probe circuit for both transmitting the excitation pulses and detecting the NMR signal. An FPGA is used to produce the excitation pulses and process the received NMR signals. This research has led to the ability to observe Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Relaxation time constants of glycerin samples can easily be measured. Future work will allow further MRI exploration by incorporating gradient magnetic field coils. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.