Toroidal Resonator Assembly for High-Frequency Electron and Nuclear Resonance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing magnetic resonance resonator assemblies face challenges in simultaneously exciting electron and nuclear resonances at high frequencies, particularly due to difficulties in coupling microwave signals and sample accessibility, especially at frequencies above 100 GHz.
Innovation Solution
A resonator assembly with a toroidal body having a stepped through configuration and an axial slit, allowing for the simultaneous excitation of nuclear resonance using a coil wound around the resonator portion, and featuring a dielectric rod for efficient coupling, enabling reliable oscillation modes at high frequencies while maintaining undisturbed field distribution and easy sample access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hollow cavity resonator is used for electron resonance excitation, then electron resonance can be excited at high frequencies, but the coupling of microwave signals becomes difficult and sample accessibility is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The resonator body is segmented into a hollow cavity portion for electron resonance and a coil portion for nuclear resonance, allowing each section to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system integration
Solution Approach 2:
The resonator assembly is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: the hollow cavity excites electron resonance while the wound coil excites nuclear resonance, enabling ENDOR experiments without requiring separate resonator systems
2Reliability
If the resonator is designed for high frequency operation above 100 GHz, then electron resonance excitation is improved, but component dimensions become extremely small making coupling difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism merges the microwave signal coupling function with the nuclear resonance coil function, where the coil serving dual purposes as both NMR exciter and microwave coupling element, eliminating the need for separate coupling components at high frequencies
Solution Approach 2:
A dielectric member is introduced as an intermediary between the microwave signal source and the hollow cavity resonator, enabling efficient energy transfer and coupling at high frequencies where direct coupling becomes problematic due to small dimensions
3Adaptability or versatility
If a toroidal body with axial slit is used, then nuclear resonance excitation is enabled, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The resonator integrates multiple resonance functions into a single unified structure: the toroidal body with axial slit simultaneously serves as the resonant cavity for electron resonance and as the coil structure for nuclear resonance excitation, reducing overall system complexity despite the enhanced functionality
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables reliable excitation of resonant modes at very high frequencies, facilitating high-quality resonator design with undisturbed field distribution, easy sample exchange, and efficient coupling, thereby enhancing magnetic resonance measurements, including ENDOR experiments.
Implementation Method 1
For measurements by means of electron resonance, however, the frequency of the magnetic field is of the order of several 10 GHz up to several 100 GHz due to the much higher gyromagnetic ratio of electrons
Implementation Method 2
the resonator portion having along an axial direction a hollow cavity for exciting electron resonance within the sample
Implementation Method 3
For measurements by means of nuclear resonance, the frequency of the magnetic field is conventionally of the order of several 100 MHz
Implementation Method 4
the means being configured as a coil wound around the resonator portion
Implementation Method 5
for exciting measurements on a sample within a constant magnetic field by means of magnetic resonance
Data Source
AI summary
A resonator assembly for executing measurements on a sample within a constant magnetic field B0 by means of magnetic resonance is disclosed. It comprises a resonator portion defining a longitudinal axis and an axial direction. The resonator portion has, along the axial direction, a hollow cavity for exciting electron resonance within the sample. A coupling portion is provided adjacent the resonator portion and has, along the longitudinal axis, a stepped through being electrically conductive at its inner surface. A first, middle section of the stepped through configures the hollow cavity. A second and a third, lateral section adjacent axially opposed sides of the hollow cavity are each dimensioned such that a basic mode being resonant within the hollow cavity is unable to propagate within the second and the third section. A coil is wound around the resonator portion for additionally exciting a nuclear resonance within the sample. The resonator portion comprises a toroidal body made from an electrically conductive material within which there is provided the stepped through. The toroidal body is provided with at least one axial slit.