Method for generating and/or detecting a magnetization, magnetometer and spectroscopy apparatus

A magnetometer for measuring a first magnetic field (Bo) by generating and/or detecting a magnetization of a sample at a sample location, comprising:

• an inductive assembly;
• a control device configured to excite the inductive assembly by an excitation signal (S) in order to provide a second magnetic field (B1) at the sample location,
• wherein the excitation signal(S) is switched cyclically between an excitation period (TX), in which an operating frequency (fESR) of the excitation signal (S) has a sample-specific resonant frequency (fres), and an idle period (RX), in which the operating frequency (fESR) of the excitation signal (S) has an idle frequency (fidle) different than the resonant frequency (fres), and
• wherein, at least in the context of switching the operating frequency (fESR) of the excitation signal (S) from the idle frequency (fidle) to the resonant frequency (fres), an operating phase of the excitation signal (S) is matched to an excitation reference phase of an excitation reference signal (Sref), which is separate from the excitation signal (S);
• a primary voltage-controlled oscillator for generating the excitation signal (S);
• and
• a first secondary voltage-controlled oscillator for generating the excitation reference signal (Sref),
• wherein the primary voltage-controlled oscillator is injection locked with the first secondary voltage-controlled oscillator for matching the operating phase to the excitation reference phase.

A spectroscopy apparatus for examining a sample at a sample location, comprising:

• a generator for generating a first magnetic field (B0) at the sample location;
• an inductive assembly;
• and
• a control device configured to excite the inductive assembly by an excitation signal (S) in order to provide a second magnetic field (B1) at the sample location,
• wherein the excitation signal (S) is switched cyclically between an excitation period (TX), in which an operating frequency (fESR) of the excitation signal (S) has a sample-specific resonant frequency (fres), and an idle period (RX), in which the operating frequency (fESR) of the excitation signal (S) has an idle frequency (fidle) different than the resonant frequency (fres), and
• wherein, at least in the context of switching the operating frequency (fESR) of the excitation signal (S) from the idle frequency (fidle) to the resonant frequency (fres), an operating phase of the excitation signal (S) is matched to an excitation reference phase of an excitation reference signal (Sref), which is separate from the excitation signal (S);
• a primary voltage-controlled oscillator for generating the excitation signal (S);
• and
• a first secondary voltage-controlled oscillator for generating the excitation reference signal (Sref),
• wherein the primary voltage-controlled oscillator is injection locked with the first secondary voltage-controlled oscillator for matching the operating phase to the excitation reference phase.