Broad band inductive matching of a nuclear magnetic resonance circuit using inductive coupling

Abstract

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) probe and method of use of a NMR probe for matching a resonant mode in a circuit to a required impedance (e.g., Z=50 Ohm) using a variable inductor which allows matching of the resonant mode in the circuit within a broad frequency range. In an additional aspect, the NMR probe and the method of use of a NMR probe allows matching of a resonant mode in a circuit to a required impedance (e.g., Z=50 Ohm) using a variable inductor without requiring the coupling constant K to be varied over a broad frequency range. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method to detect a Nuclear NMR mode of a nuclei including the steps of introducing a sample into a NMR probe comprising a primary circuit and a secondary circuit, where the primary circuit comprises a sample coil, a first variable capacitor and a RF pulse generator, where the secondary circuit comprises a coupling loop, a variable inductor and an impedance port, introducing the NMR probe into a magnetic field, exciting the sample with the RF pulse generator, inductively coupling the coupling loop to the sample coil, adjusting the first variable capacitor and the variable inductor to match the impedance to the required impedance of the impedance port and detecting a NMR mode of a nuclei of the sample.