Abstract: A magnet assembly for a small scale NMR spectroscopy apparatus suitable for laboratory or home use, generally comprising two permanent magnets facing one another so that the facing surfaces have opposite polarities, a pole cap on each of the two facing surfaces of the permanent magnets, and a plurality of radially polarized canceling magnets disposed about the permanent magnets and pole caps. The design and position of the radially polarized canceling magnets about the tapered pole caps reduces leakage of the magnetic field, to maintain the magnetic field strength and homogeneity within the test region, without a disadvantageous increase in the size, weight and cost of the NMR apparatus. A curved edge ring shim may be used to increase magnetic field homogeneity in the test region. Also provided is a method for measurement of glucose concentration in a fluid using NMR spectroscopy.

Abstract: A magnet assembly for a small scale NMR spectroscopy apparatus suitable for laboratory or home use, generally comprising two permanent magnets facing one another so that the facing surfaces have opposite polarities, a pole cap on each of the two facing surfaces of the permanent magnets, and a plurality of radially polarized canceling magnets disposed about the permanent magnets and pole caps. The design and position of the radially polarized canceling magnets about the tapered pole caps reduces leakage of the magnetic field, to maintain the magnetic field strength and homogeneity within the test region, without a disadvantageous increase in the size, weight and cost of the NMR apparatus. A curved edge ring shim may be used to increase magnetic field homogeneity in the test region. Also provided is a method for measurement of glucose concentration in a fluid using NMR spectroscopy.

Abstract: A signal function S(t.sub.1, t.sub.2) is obtained from a plurality of coherence transfer pathways in a single acquisition by preparing a molecular system in a coherent non-equilibrium state, and alternately and sequentially detecting signals at individual sampling points, in t.sub.2, from the plurality of coherence transfer pathways by using gradient refocusing of a new pathway after signal detection at a sampling point in another pathway. A frequency domain spectrum S(.omega..sub.1,.omega..sub.2) is constructed by first Fourier transforming the time domain signals S(t.sub.1, t.sub.2) in the t.sub.2 dimension and producing real and imaginary components which modulate as sine and cosine signals in t.sub.1. The real (.omega..sub.2) cosine (t.sub.1) components are combined with the imaginary (.omega..sub.2) sine (t.sub.1) components to form a complex data set S(t.sub.1, .omega..sub.2) that is amplitude modulated in t.sub.1. The complex data set is then Fourier transformed in the t.sub.

Abstract: A signal function S(t.sub.1, t.sub.2) is obtained from a plurality of coherence transfer pathways in a single acquisition by preparing a molecular system in a coherent non-equilibrium state, and alternately and sequentially detecting signals at individual sampling points, in t.sub.2, from the plurality of coherence transfer pathways by using gradient refocusing of a new pathway after siganl detection at a sampling point in another pathway. The gradient encoding and refocusing of coherence pathways can use inhomogeneous rf-pulses (B.sub.1 gradients) or B.sub.0 field gradients. The coherence transfer pathways can be sequentially selected in an arbitrary order.