Planar NMR coils with localized field-generating and capacitive elements

A resonant magnetic field coil for an NMR spectrometer that generates a radio frequency magnetic field in an active sample volume, the coil comprising:

• a planar dielectric substrate;
• a high-temperature superconductor material deposited on the dielectric substrate and forming a plurality of nested current carrying loops each of which has magnetic field generating elements and interdigital capacitor elements, the current carrying loops forming a substantially closed geometric path surrounding an inner region that has a substantially oblong shape and lies adjacent to the active sample volume, wherein the magnetic field generating elements comprise electrical conductors that run substantially parallel to a major axis of the oblong shape and the interdigital capacitor elements comprise electrical conductors that run substantially perpendicular to said major axis of the oblong shape such that substantially all of the interdigital capacitor elements are located farther from a center of the oblong shape than the magnetic field generating elements, and wherein, during operation, there is a relatively high voltage difference between adjacent capacitive elements, and a negligible voltage difference between adjacent magnetic field generating elements.

A method of configuring a magnetic resonance radio frequency resonator that generates a radio frequency magnetic field in an active sample volume, the method comprising:

• providing a planar dielectric substrate;
• depositing a conductive material on the dielectric substrate to form a plurality of nested current carrying loops each of which has magnetic field generating elements and interdigital capacitor elements, the current carrying loops forming a substantially closed geometric path surrounding an inner region that has a substantially oblong shape and lies adjacent to the active sample volume, wherein substantially all of the interdigital capacitor elements are located farther from a center of the oblong shape than the magnetic field generating elements, and wherein, during operation, there is a relatively high voltage difference between adjacent capacitive elements, and a negligible voltage difference between adjacent magnetic field generating elements.