Nanoscale Fourier-transform MRI

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel nanometer-scale MRI technique that uses pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic field gradients to achieve 10-nm resolution imaging of proton spins in solid samples.

Contribution

The authors develop a new method combining pulsed NMR with nanoscale magnetic field gradients for high-resolution imaging at the nanometer scale.

Findings

Achieved 10-nm spatial resolution in proton density imaging.

Demonstrated the technique using a silicon nanowire sensor.

Provided two-dimensional projection images of solid samples.

Abstract

We report a method for nanometer-scale pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. Periodic radiofrequency pulses are used to create temporal correlations in the statistical polarization of a solid organic sample. The spin density is spatially encoded by applying a series of intense magnetic field gradient pulses generated by focusing electric current through a nanometer-scale metal constriction. We demonstrate this technique using a silicon nanowire mechanical oscillator as a magnetic resonance sensor to image 1H spins in a polystyrene sample. We obtain a two-dimensional projection of the sample proton density with approximately 10-nm resolution.