Abstract: A system can include: a superconducting or permanent magnet; a high field portion corresponding to the superconducting or permanent magnet, wherein the high field has a range of 0.1-20 T; a low field portion positioned outside of the superconducting or permanent magnet, wherein the low field has a range of 0.01 nT-100 mT; a shuttling mechanism configured to deliver a sample between the low field portion and the high field portion; and a polarization sub-assembly configured to hyperpolarize the sample while the sample is within the low field portion. A device can be configured to cause nuclear spin hyperpolarization in diamond particles such that the hyperpolarization is transferable to at least one of an external liquid or an external solid.

Abstract: A system can include: a superconducting or permanent magnet; a high field portion corresponding to the superconducting or permanent magnet, wherein the high field has a range of 0.1-20 T; a low field portion positioned outside of the superconducting or permanent magnet, wherein the low field has a range of 0.01 nT-100 mT; a shuttling mechanism configured to deliver a sample between the low field portion and the high field portion; and a polarization sub-assembly configured to hyperpolarize the sample while the sample is within the low field portion. A device can be configured to cause nuclear spin hyperpolarization in diamond particles such that the hyperpolarization is transferable to at least one of an external liquid or an external solid.

Abstract: A method of hyperpolarizing diamond particles includes applying a laser to a sample of the diamond particles, irradiating the diamond particles with a sweeping microwave to cause diamond polarization, shuttling the diamond particles through a magnetic field to detect 13C nuclei in the diamond particles, and relaying the diamond polarization to nuclear spins to one of a surrounding solid or fluid.

Abstract: Polarizable diamond materials and methods for obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of samples external to the diamond materials are described. The diamond materials can include 12C, 13C, substitutional nitrogen, and nitrogen vacancy defects in a crystalline lattice, wherein the substitutional nitrogen concentration is between 10 ppm and 200 ppm, the nitrogen vacancy concentration is between 10 ppb and 10 ppm, and the 13C concentration is greater than 1.1% and not more than 25%. Methods for obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance spectra can include optically pumping a diamond material to generate electron spin hyperpolarization in nitrogen vacancy centers, transferring the electron spin hyperpolarization to nuclei of the sample, and generating a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum by applying a magnetic field to the sample, exciting the sample with a radio frequency pulse, and detecting a nuclear magnetic resonance response from the sample.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques and methods for measuring the chemical dynamics of a sample by monitoring the longitudinal and/or transverse relaxation rate of hyperpolarized xenon at low magnetic fields using a rubidium magnetometer.

Abstract: Polarizable diamond materials and methods for obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of samples external to the diamond materials are described. The diamond materials can include 12C, 13C, substitutional nitrogen, and nitrogen vacancy defects in a crystalline lattice, wherein the substitutional nitrogen concentration is between 10 ppm and 200 ppm, the nitrogen vacancy concentration is between 10 ppb and 10 ppm, and the 13C concentration is greater than 1.1% and not more than 25%. Methods for obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance spectra can include optically pumping a diamond material to generate electron spin hyperpolarization in nitrogen vacancy centers, transferring the electron spin hyperpolarization to nuclei of the sample, and generating a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum by applying a magnetic field to the sample, exciting the sample with a radio frequency pulse, and detecting a nuclear magnetic resonance response from the sample.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method of detecting a J-coupling includes providing a polarized analyte adjacent to a vapor cell of an atomic magnetometer; and measuring one or more J-coupling parameters using the atomic magnetometer. According to an embodiment, measuring the one or more J-coupling parameters includes detecting a magnetic field created by the polarized analyte as the magnetic field evolves under a J-coupling interaction.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents that include a plurality of gas vesicles configured to associate with a noble gas are provided. Also provided are magnetic resonance imaging methods that include administering to a subject a contrast agent that includes a plurality of gas vesicles, obtaining a magnetic resonance data of a target site of interest, and analyzing the data to produce a magnetic resonance image of the target site. The subject contrast agents and methods find use in magnetic resonance imaging applications.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to depth well logging. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a radio frequency (RF) coil and a magnetic field sensing device. The apparatus is configured to be positioned in a first magnetic field. The first magnetic field polarizes nuclear spins of species in a detection region proximate the apparatus. The apparatus generates a second magnetic field for a time period with the RF coil to excite the nuclear spins of the species in the detection region. Then, the apparatus measures electromagnetic radiation, using the magnetic field sensing device, generated by the species as a result of the excitation of the nuclear spins.

Abstract: A system and method for Fourier encoding a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal is disclosed. A static magnetic field B0 is provided along a first direction. An NMR signal from the sample is Fourier encoded by applying a rotating-frame gradient field BG superimposed on the B0, where the BG comprises a vector component rotating in a plane perpendicular to the first direction at an angular frequency ? in a laboratory frame. The Fourier-encoded NMR signal is detected.

Abstract: A method for locally creating effectively homogeneous or “clean” magnetic field gradients (of high uniformity) for imaging (with NMR, MRI, or spectroscopic MRI) both in in-situ and ex-situ systems with high degrees of inhomogeneous field strength.

Abstract: System and methods for designing and using single-sided magnet assemblies for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are disclosed. The single-sided magnet assemblies can include an array of permanent magnets disposed at selected positions. At least one of the permanent magnets can be configured to rotate about an axis of rotation in the range of at least +/?10 degrees and can include a magnetization having a vector component perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The single-sided magnet assemblies can further include a magnet frame that is configured to hold the permanent magnets in place while allowing the at least one of the permanent magnets to rotate about the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A novel approach to magnetic resonance imaging is disclosed. Blood flowing through a living system is prepolarized, and then encoded. The polarization can be achieved using permanent or superconducting magnets. The polarization may be carried out upstream of the region to be encoded or at the place of encoding. In the case of an MRI of a brain, polarization of flowing blood can be effected by placing a magnet over a section of the body such as the heart upstream of the head. Alternatively, polarization and encoding can be effected at the same location. Detection occurs at a remote location, using a separate detection device such as an optical atomic magnetometer, or an inductive Faraday coil. The detector may be placed on the surface of the skin next to a blood vessel such as a jugular vein carrying blood away from the encoded region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described wherein a micro sample of a fluidic material may be assayed without sample contamination using NMR techniques, in combination with magnetoresistive sensors. The fluidic material to be assayed is first subject to pre-polarization, in one embodiment, by passage through a magnetic field. The magnetization of the fluidic material is then subject to an encoding process, in one embodiment an rf-induced inversion by passage through an adiabatic fast-passage module. Thereafter, the changes in magnetization are detected by a pair of solid-state magnetoresistive sensors arranged in gradiometer mode. Miniaturization is afforded by the close spacing of the various modules.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method of detecting a J-coupling includes providing a polarized analyte adjacent to a vapor cell of an atomic magnetometer; and measuring one or more J-coupling parameters using the atomic magnetometer. According to an embodiment, measuring the one or more J-coupling parameters includes detecting a magnetic field created by the polarized analyte as the magnetic field evolves under a J-coupling interaction.

Abstract: An integral microfluidic device includes an alkali vapor cell and microfluidic channel, which can be used to detect magnetism for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Small magnetic fields in the vicinity of the vapor cell can be measured by optically polarizing and probing the spin precession in the small magnetic field. This can then be used to detect the magnetic field of in encoded analyte in the adjacent microfluidic channel. The magnetism in the microfluidic channel can be modulated by applying an appropriate series of radio or audio frequency pulses upstream from the microfluidic chip (the remote detection modality) to yield a sensitive means of detecting NMR and MRI.

Abstract: This invention pertains to improved methods of classifying skin types as well as improved methods for determining the appropriateness of products and evaluating methods for treating particular skin. The methods typically utilize a “skin type” database containing one or more quantitative measures (e.g., NMR data) of skin properties. The database can optionally include various qualitative measures of skin as well (e.g., Glogau scale and/or Fitzpatrick scale values).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus of amplifying the signal of at least one NMR spectrum and of at least one MRI of hyperpolarized xenon. In an embodiment, the invention includes dissolving the hyperpolarized xenon in a liquid via an input membrane, thereby resulting in xenon in liquid phase, encoding information in the longitudinal magnetization of the nuclear spins of the xenon in liquid phase via an encoding coil surrounding an encoding phantom coupled to an output of the input membrane and via an encoding magnet, thereby resulting in encoded xenon, extracting the encoded xenon into the gas phase from the liquid phase via an extraction membrane coupled to an output of the encoding phantom, thereby resulting in encoded xenon in the gas phase, and decoding the encoded information from the encoded xenon in gas phase via a detection coil coupled to an output of the extraction membrane.

Abstract: Ultrahigh time resolution magnetic resonance is achieved in a flow-through device such as a microfluidic chip by imaging along the flow dimension. Position within the one-dimensional image may be related to time by the flow velocity. Thus, a time resolution corresponding to the one-dimensional image resolution is obtainable.

Abstract: An atomic magnetometer is used to detect radio frequency magnetic fields, such as those generated in nuclear resonance experiments. The magnetometer is based on nonlinear magneto-optical rotation and pumps an atomic vapor into a quadrupole aligned state. Detection of the modulation of the polarization of a linearly polarized beam provides the radio frequency signal, which can then be processed to extract the component frequencies.