Zero- to Ultralow-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance $J$-Spectroscopy with Commercial Atomic Magnetometers

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a simplified zero- to ultralow-field NMR setup using commercial atomic magnetometers, enabling broader accessibility and application in studying complex materials without magnetic susceptibility issues.

Contribution

It introduces a practical ZULF NMR configuration with commercial magnetometers, reducing the expertise barrier for new users.

Findings

Successfully measured samples with nuclear spins prepolarized in a permanent magnet.

Demonstrated the ability to initialize samples using parahydrogen.

Showcased the potential to study samples through conductive materials.

Abstract

Zero- to ultralow-field nuclear magnetic resonance (ZULF NMR) is an alternative spectroscopic method to high-field NMR, in which samples are studied in the absence of a large magnetic field. Unfortunately, there is a large barrier to entry for many groups, because operating the optical magnetometers needed for signal detection requires some expertise in atomic physics and optics. Commercially available magnetometers offer a solution to this problem. Here we describe a simple ZULF NMR configuration employing commercial magnetometers, and demonstrate sufficient functionality to measure samples with nuclear spins prepolarized in a permanent magnet or initialized using parahydrogen. This opens the possibility for other groups to use ZULF NMR, which provides a means to study complex materials without magnetic susceptibility-induced line broadening, and to observe samples through conductive materials.