Covariance nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Covariance nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is introduced, which is a new scheme for establishing nuclear spin correlations from NMR experiments. In this method correlated spin dynamics is directly displayed in terms of a covariance matrix of a series of one-dimensional (1D) spectra. In contrast to two-dimensional (2D) Fourier transform NMR, in a covariance spectrum the spectral resolution along the indirect dimension is determined by the favorable spectral resolution obtainable along the detection dimension, thereby reducing the time-consuming sampling requirement along the indirect dimension. The covariance method neither involves a second Fourier transformation nor does it require separate phase correction or apodization along the indirect dimension. The new scheme is demonstrated for cross-relaxation (NOESY) and J-coupling based magnetization transfer (TOCSY) experiments.