Patent ID: 8456162

Claim:
A method for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements, the method comprising the steps of: a) creating enhanced polarisation of nuclei of a first kind within a sample in a magnetic field at cryogenic temperatures; b) transferring the polarised sample to room temperature; c) transforming the enhanced polarization of nuclei of the first kind into long-lived states (LLS) of nuclei of a second kind; d) sustaining these LLS by irradiation of the sample with an rf-field; e) at least partially converting the LLS into observable magnetisation; and f) carrying out an NMR or MRI measurement, wherein, in step e) the LLS are only partially converted into detectable magnetisation and, after carrying out step e), a remaining part of the LLS is sustained during a subsequent period, prior to another detection period, wherein steps d) through f) are repeated n−1 times, with n an integer number >1, wherein, in step e), the LLS are completely converted into a difference of longitudinal two spin order (ZZ) and zero quantum coherence (ZQC) during an interval τ 4 , and this superposition is subsequently partially converted into detectable magnetisation by applying a small-angle pulse.