Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy using light with orbital angular momentum
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorsLucian Remus Albu, Daniel R. Elgort, Satyen Mukherjee
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Abstract
A device capable of producing a high resolution chemical analysis of a sample, such as fluid, is based upon nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The nuclear magnetic polarizations of the sample are generated by sequentially illuminating the sample with a focused beam of light carrying angular orbital angular momentum (OAM) and possibly momentum (spin). Unlike in a typical NMR used for magnetic nuclear resonance imaging (MRI) or spectroscopy, the present device does not make use of a strong magnet.
Claims15
A method of analyzing a sample including molecules based upon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the method comprising the acts of:
- providing a light by turning on a light source;
- introducing orbital angular momentum into the light;
- obtaining a focused light beam carrying the orbital angular momentum;
- sequentially illuminating the sample to provide a light pulse for sequential illumination of the sample with the focused light beam carrying the orbital angular momentum for obtaining nuclear magnetic polarization of the sample for aligning the molecules in a propagation direction of the focused light beam when the sample is illuminated by the focused light beam;
- generating a sequence of magnetic fields by a coil arranged around the sample including a magnetic field having a direction which is perpendicular to the propagation direction of the focused light beam, wherein the coil is configured to generate the magnetic field when the sample is not illuminated by the focused light beam for aligning the molecules in the direction of the magnetic field;
- and
- obtaining a free induction decay signal resulting from the sequential illumination of the sample, the free induction decay signal carrying characteristics of the sample.
A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer instructions which, when executed by a processor, configure the processor to perform the acts of
- providing a light by turning on a light source;
- introducing orbital angular momentum into the light;
- obtaining a focused light beam carrying the orbital angular momentum;
- sequentially illuminating the sample to provide a light pulse for sequential illumination of the sample with the focused light beam carrying the orbital angular momentum for obtaining nuclear magnetic polarization of the sample for aligning the molecules in a propagation direction of the focused light beam when the sample is illuminated by the focused light beam;
- generating a sequence of magnetic fields by a coil arranged around the sample including a magnetic field having a direction which is perpendicular to the propagation direction of the focused light beam, wherein the coil is configured to generate the magnetic field when the sample is not illuminated by the focused light beam for aligning the molecules in the direction of the magnetic field;
- and
- obtaining a free induction decay signal resulting from the sequential illumination of the sample, the free induction decay signal carrying characteristics of the sample.
A device for analyzing a sample including molecules, the analysis being based upon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, the device comprising:
- a light source configured to provide a light;
- means for introducing orbital angular momentum into the light;
- a container for accommodating the sample;
- means for obtaining a focused light beam;
- means for sequentially illuminating the sample to provide a light pulse for sequential illumination of the sample with the focused light beam carrying the orbital angular momentum for obtaining nuclear magnetic polarization of the sample for aligning the molecules in a propagation direction of the focused light beam when the sample is illuminated by the focused light beam;
- a coil arranged around the sample and configured to generate a sequence of magnetic fields including a magnetic field having a direction which is perpendicular to the propagation direction of the focused light beam, wherein the coil is further configured to generate the magnetic field when the sample is not illuminated by the focused light beam for aligning the molecules in the direction of the magnetic field;
- and
- means for detecting a free induction decay signal resulting from the illumination, the free induction decay signal carrying characteristics of the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.