Acquisition of a nuclear magnetic resonance signal using an electric field detection technique

The authors describe an alternative approach to signal acquisition in nuclear magnetic resonance and demonstrate this by measuring the free induction decay signal from a sample of glycerine. Traditionally, these systems have operated using pulse radio frequency excitation and magnetic (inductive) readout. This approach identifies the previously unmeasured electric field signal associated with the precessing nuclear spins and provides an alternative capacitive (noninductive) readout. The possible advantages which may accrue from this technique include a reduction in the dead time and the cross coupling between the transmitter and the receiver, a simpler receiver implementation, and an inherently high spatial resolution.