Non-resonant SABRE provides a new and versatile hyperpolarization approach for magnetic resonance

TL;DR

This paper introduces a non-resonant SABRE hyperpolarization method that generates field-independent spin order in target molecules, enabling efficient magnetic resonance signal enhancement without precise field control.

Contribution

The study presents a novel, field-independent SABRE hyperpolarization approach that broadens applicability and improves efficiency over traditional field-matched methods.

Findings

Achieves significant polarization without field control

Creates field-independent spin order in target molecules

Challenges the assumption of singlet-only initial states in SABRE

Abstract

Hyperpolarization approaches in magnetic resonance overcome the sensitivity limitations imposed by thermal magnetization and play an important role in a very wide range of modern applications. One of the newer strategies, variants of what is generically called SABRE, uses para-hydrogen to form hydrides on transition metal catalysts, followed by reversible exchange to polarize target molecules in solution, and has produced large signal enhancements (approx. 10^4) on hundreds of different molecules, cheaply and rapidly. Most commonly, the sample is kept in a constant field, matched to make the hydride scalar coupling comparable to the frequency difference between hydride protons and target protons (approx. 6.5 mT) or hydride protons and target heteronuclei (approx. 0.5 {\mu}T). Here we demonstrate a different strategy, applicable to a wide range of target molecules, that produces field-independent spin order in the target molecules that is efficiently converted to magnetization. The observed signal is even independent of field direction, hence significant polarization can be achieved in a sample on a lab bench with no field control at all. We show this signal arises from creation of two-spin order in the target molecules, and discuss multiple ways this strategy should expand SABRE generality and efficiency. We also show that, in many cases, the standard assumption in low-field SABRE of a starting state with only singlet polarization leads to incorrect results.