Dynamics of classical spins on a lattice: Spin diffusion

Dynamic nuclear polarization assisted spin diffusion for the solid effect case

The dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) process in solids depends on the magnitudes of hyperfine interactions between unpaired electrons and their neighboring (core) nuclei, and on the dipole-dipole interactions between all nuclei in the sample. The polarization enhancement of the bulk nuclei has been typically described in terms of a hyperfine-assisted polarization of a core nucleus by microwave irradiation followed by a dipolar-assisted spin diffusion process in the core-bulk nuclear system. This work presents a theoretical approach for the study of this combined process using a density matrix formalism. In particular, solid effect DNP on a single electron coupled to a nuclear spin system is considered, taking into account the interactions between the spins as well as the main relaxation mechanisms introduced via the electron, nuclear, and cross-relaxation rates. The basic principles of the DNP-assisted spin diffusion mechanism, polarizing the bulk nuclei, are presented, and it is shown that the polarization of the core nuclei and the spin diffusion process should not be treated separately. To emphasize this observation the coherent mechanism driving the pure spin diffusion process is also discussed. In order to demonstrate the effects of the interactions and relaxation mechanisms on the enhancement of the nuclear polarization, model systems of up to ten spins are considered and polarization buildup curves are simulated. A linear chain of spins consisting of a single electron coupled to a core nucleus, which in turn is dipolar coupled to a chain of bulk nuclei, is considered. The interaction and relaxation parameters of this model system were chosen in a way to enable a critical analysis of the polarization enhancement of all nuclei, and are not far from the values of (13)C nuclei in frozen (glassy) organic solutions containing radicals, typically used in DNP at high fields. Results from the simulations are shown, demonstrating the complex dependences of the DNP-assisted spin diffusion process on variations of the relevant parameters. In particular, the effect of the spin lattice relaxation times on the polarization buildup times and the resulting end polarization are discussed, and the quenching of the polarizations by the hyperfine interaction is demonstrated.

Sixty Years of Nuclear Moments

In keeping with the tradition of prefatory articles for the Annual Review of Physical Chemistry, this is an autobiographical essay describing my scientific career. I begin with my background and education at Dartmouth and Caltech and follow with my half-century of research and teaching at MIT. I emphasize subjects that I found especially interesting or important, including average Hamiltonians and the beginnings of high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in solids, broadband spin decoupling in liquids, NMR at milli-Kelvin temperatures, and the exploration of basic physical principles by computer. Throughout I recall with affection my mentors, colleagues, and students.

Magnetization and spin-spin energy diffusion in the XY model: a diagrammatic approach

It is shown that the diagrammatic cluster expansion technique for equilibrium averages of spin operators may be straightforwardly extended to the calculation of time-dependent correlation functions of spin operators. We use this technique to calculate exactly the first two non-vanishing moments of the spin-spin and energy-energy correlation functions of the XY model with arbitrary couplings, in the long-wavelength, infinite temperature limit appropriate for spin diffusion. These moments are then used to estimate the magnetization and spin-spin energy diffusion coefficients of the model using a phenomenological theory of Redfield. Qualitative agreement is obtained with recent experiments measuring diffusion of dipolar energy in calcium fluoride.

Spin diffusion of correlated two-spin states in a dielectric crystal

Reciprocal space measurements of spin diffusion in a single crystal of calcium fluoride (CaF2) have been extended to dipolar ordered states. The experimental results for the component of the spin diffusion rate parallel to the external field are D(parallel)(D)=29+/-3x10(-12) cm(2)/s for the [001] direction and D(parallel)(D)=33+/-4x10(-12) cm(2)/s for the [111] direction. The measured diffusion rates for dipolar order are faster than those for Zeeman order and are considerably faster than predicted by simple theoretical models. It is suggested that constructive interference in the transport of the two-spin states is responsible for this enhancement. As expected, the anisotropy in the diffusion rates is observed to be significantly less for dipolar order compared to the Zeeman case.

Impurity nuclear spin-lattice relaxation suppression and charge exchange of chromium ions in a gamma-irradiated ruby crystal

The possibility of directly separating and measuring the impurity and lattice contributions to nuclear spin-lattice relaxation under the condition of a steady-state magnetic saturation is demonstrated in the particular case of 27Al nuclei in a gamma-irradiated ruby crystal. Contributions from trivalent and charge-exchanged chromium ions to impurity nuclear relaxation were separated. The number of charge-exchanged chromium ions was found. The spin relaxation time of Cr4+ centers was estimated.