Characterization of RF Inhomogeneity via NOON states

Abstract: We describe a method for quantitative characterization of radio-frequency (RF) inhomogeneity using NOON states. NOON states are special multiple-quantum coherences which can be easily prepared in star-topology spin-systems. In this method we exploit the high sensitivity of the NOON states for z-rotations. As a result, Torrey oscillations with NOON states decay much faster than that of single quantum coherences. Therefore the present method requires shorter pulse durations, and enables the study of inhomogeneity at higher RF powers. To model such a inhomogeneity profile, we propose a two-parameter asymmetric Lorentzian function. The experiments are carried out in 1H channels of two different high-resolution NMR probes and the results are compared. Finally, we also extend the NOON state method to characterize the inhomogeneity correlations between two RF channels. We obtain the correlation profile between 1H and 31P channels of an NMR probe by constructing a five-parameter asymmetric-3D Lorentzian model.