Abstract
The early history of magnetic resonance to around 1950 is discussed from the point of view of a participant in it. I. I. Rabi’s theory of space quantization in a gyrating magnetic field and his molecular beam experiments in the 1930s laid the foundation of the magnetic resonance method, which he and his associates subsequently pursued and developed further at Columbia University, leading eventually to the development of NMR after World War II and the invention of the separated oscillatory fields method in 1950.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ramsey, N. Early History of Magnetic Resonance. Phys. perspect. 1, 123–135 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s000160050012
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s000160050012
Key words
- Molecular beams
- nuclear magnetic resonance
- magnetic resonance imaging
- microwave spectroscopy
- radiofrequency spectroscopy
- oscillatory field method
- nuclear magnetic moments
- paramagnetic resonance
- optical pumping