Relaxation effects in two-dimensional zero-field nutation NQR spectroscopy

Abstract

The relaxation and off-resonance effects on the NQR (nuclear quadrupole resonance) nutation frequency and on the damping constant of the nutation spectrum for spinsI = 3/2 are considered. Using the solution of dynamic equations for nuclear magnetisation in the rotating frame, we obtained a general expression for determination of the asymmetry parameter η, which includes the relaxation time and frequency offset. Specific requirements for the RF (radio frequency) field allowing the presence of nutation and the sufficient resolution of nutation spectra are determined. It is shown that at low RF field it is necessary to take into account theT ₂ relaxation effect on the location of frequency singularities in the nutation spectrum. The values ofH ₁ andT ₂ must be exactly known in nutation NQR spectroscopy. The 2D NQR spin-echo separation technique was used for determination of transverse relaxation of individual spin packets in case of inhomogeneously broadened NQR lines, so that the asymmetry parameter could then be determined by the nutation experiment with consideration of relaxation effects and frequency offset. The theoretical results are confirmed experimentally for the narrow and inhomogeneously broadened 2D-nutation NQR spectra in several molecular compounds containing the³⁵Cl and⁷⁵As nuclei.