Patent GB-892100-A (GB)
Title: Method and apparatus for obtaining coherent emission of energy from gyromagnetic bodies
IPC: H01S1/04
Filed: 1958-04-29
Abstract: 892,100. Masers. BLOCK, F., and VARIAN ASSOCIATES. April 29, 1958 [May 2, 1957], No. 13618/58. Class 40 (9). [Also in Group XXXVI] Nuclear gyromagnetic bodies such as protons in a polarizing magnetic field are raised from one energy level to a higher level and emission of energy is assisted by a tuned circuit with which the bodies are coupled. The protons may be raised to the higher energy level by a radio frequency pulse or by a reversal of the polarizing field. The coupling between the tuned circuit and the bodies must be such that the thermal relaxation time T2 # 1/2# | γ | Q#Mo where γ is the gyromagnetic ratio, Q the quality factor of the tuned circuit, Mo, the magnetic moment per c.c. of the bodies and # the filling factor of the coil in the tuned circuit. Radio frequency pulses.-The protons, in a sample 1 of water situated in a polarizing magnetic field Ho, Fig. 1, are raised to a higher energy level by a radio-frequency pulse from a source 12, the frequency of the pulse being the Larmor precession frequency γ Ho of the bodies in the field Ho. The pulse is applied to a coil 3 which has its axis perpendicular to the field Ho and in effect produces a field H1 rotating in phase with the precessing axes of the gyro magnetic bodies. In the absence of the transverse field, the bodies normally have a total magnetic moment per c.c. of Mo in substantial alignment with the polarizing field Ho as at A, Fig. 2. In the presence of the rotating field H1, however, the bodies also process about the rotating axis of H1 at a Larmor frequency γH1. The length t of the pulse is chosen so that t= #/γH1, sufficient to turn the total moment Mo through 180 degrees to position B. After the pulse, the bodies return slowly to the lower energy level. The transverse relaxation time T2, which is the useful part of the relaxation time during which emission of energy can be stimulated and detected, is of the order of 2 to 3 secs. for water. The emission can be stimulated by a signal of frequency γ Ho at the input terminal 15 of the tuned circuit 3, 4 which has a regenerative effect. For amplification, the coupling between the tuned circuit 3, 4 and the gyromagnetic bodies must not be too tight. Suitable conditions are defined mathematically. If the coupling is tighter, a thermal or spontaneous transfer of a body to a lower level is sufficient to stimulate the transfer of the rest. Relay 8 and the input signals are controlled to produce the sequence of operations shown in Fig. 3. In Fig. 4 (not shown), the input and output circuits and the radio-frequency sources are all transformer-coupled to tuned circuit 3, 4, and there is no relay. Two circuits like the circuit of Fig. 1 may be combined so that the signal period of one coincides with the delay switching and radio-frequency pumping frequency of the other. In another arrangement, Fig. 12, designed to avoid delays waiting for gyromagnetic bodies to align with the polarizing field, a radio frequency source 12 and input/ output terminals 74 are successively connected to a tuned coupling circuit 3, 4 by a switch 73 controlled by a sequencer 75. At the end of a useful signal period (the transverse relaxation time) a pump 76 replaces the sample of gyromagnetic bodies in the coil 3 by a new sample already polarized in field Ho. In Fig. 13, the gyromagnetic material flows continuously in a polarizing field Ho from a coil 77 to a circuit 3, 4 tuned to the Larmor frequency corresponding to field Ho. The material is subjected to a 180 degrees non-adiabatic reversal of magnetic moment by Larmor frequency oscillations as it passes through coil 77. It reaches coil 3 within the transverse relaxation period. The tightness of the coupling of circuit 3, 4 to the sample determines whether oscillations or amplified signals may be derived from circuit 3, 4. Radio-frequency pulses and field gradient.- If the polarizing field Ho has a gradient dH/dz in the region of the coil 77 and is homogeneous in the region of the coil 3, the material undergoes an adiabatic reversal. The field gradient may be produced by shaped magnetic polepieces 79, Fig. 16. Reversal of polarizing field.-The polarizing field may be produced by coils 41 and a direct current supply 44, Fig. 7. Reversal of the direct current by switch 45 reverses the polarizing field and as the gyromagnetic bodies in sample 39 do not follow the field immediately they are in effect raised to a higher energy level. Oscillations or amplified signals are derived as before by means of circuit 3, 4. Signal receiver, Fig. 17.-An amplifier arranged like the amplifier of Fig. 13 is tuned by means of coils 88 which are used to control the polarizing field in the region of the tuned pick-up circuit 3, 4. Signals received by an antenna 82 are applied to the same region by means of a coil 84. The amplified signals may be further amplified, detected and recorded. Coupled gyromagnetic ensembles.-A sample of material 52, Fig. 10, in a polarizing magnetic field Ho comprises two coupled ensembles of gyromagnetic bodies such as nuclei and electrons. In solid materials the (I.S.) coupling is most effective at low temperatures around 2‹ K. A suitable material is arsenic-doped silicon containing 1.3 x 10<SP>17</SP> arsenic atoms per c.c. of silicon. The unbound electrons in the outer orbit of the donor arsenic atoms constitute one ensemble which is brought to a partial saturated resonance by the appropriate Larmor frequency from source 12. The partial saturation of the electrons produces a negative polarization of the arsenic nuclei which are raised to a higher energy state and can be stimulated to amplify or oscillate by signals at the Larmor frequency of the nuclei. The nuclei may be maintained at a high energy level by pumping continuously at the electron Larmor frequency. In a modification, Fig. 11, the pumping frequency may be applied through a waveguide 62 to the material 56 enclosed within a dielectric container 57. A thin silver coating 59 inside the container forms a resonant cavity. The coupling conductor 63 may be inside or outside the cavity. The thin silver coating does not form a shield at the low frequency of circuit 63, 64. Gyromagnetic resonance spectrometer.-The Specification describes a spectrometer identical with that described in Specification 892,101 but the claims differ.