Low power stimulated emission nuclear quadrupole resonance detection at multiple reference power levels

A system comprising:

• at least one conductive surface defining a space;
• at least one wire loop disposed within the space adjacent the conductive surface;
• a radio frequency chirp transmitter, coupled to the wire loop to emit a time varying electromagnetic field within the space at a first average power level and subsequently at a second power level;
• a detector for detecting a first set of coherent emissions resulting from the time varying field at the first average power level and at the second average power level;
• a comparator, for comparing the coherent emissions detected at the first and second average power levels to determine properties of a substance disposed within the space;
• and further comprising:
• is a plurality of amplifiers arranged in parallel to receive an output of the radio frequency chirp transmitter;
• a combiner for combining the outputs of the plurality of amplifiers, the combiner having an output coupled to the wire loop;
• and
• a controller for controlling the transmitter to generate a series of radio frequency chirp signals, each of the series having a selected one of the first or second average power levels, a selected one of a sine or cosine relative chirp phase, and a selected frequency range for the chirp;
• and
• a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the series of radio frequency chirp signals.

A system comprising:

• at least one conductor or disposed within a space adjacent a conductive surface;
• a chirp signal generator;
• a plurality of amplifiers arranged in parallel to receive the chirp signal;
• a combiner for combining the outputs of the plurality of amplifiers, the combiner having an output coupled to the at least one conductor;
• a controller for controlling the chirp signal generator to generate a series of radio frequency chirp signals, each of the series having a selected average power level, a selected one of a sine or cosine relative chirp phase, and a selected frequency range for the chirp;
• a coupler, for coupling the output of the combiner to the conductor to emit a time varying electromagnetic field within the space;
• a detector for detecting a first set of coherent emissions resulting from the time varying field;
• a processor, for comparing the coherent emissions at least to determine properties of a substance disposed within the space;
• and
• a demultiplexer, arranged to demultiplex the series of radio frequency chirp signals.