Method and system for cancellation of extraneous signals in nuclear quadrupole resonance spectroscopy

• US 6,392,408 B1
• Filed: 05/06/1998
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Quantum Magnetics, Inc. (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Quamtum Magnetics Incorporated
• Inventors: Burnett, Lowell J., Sheldon, Alan G., Barrall, Geoffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARANA, LOUIS M
• Application Number:
  US09/074,305
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: 324/300, 324/301, 324/314, 324/307, 324/309, 324/322, 324/310
• US Class Current: 324/300
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/441 Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance [NQR] Spectroscopy and Imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/4608 RF excitation sequences for enhanced detection, e.g. NOE, polarisation transfer, selection of a coherence transfer pathway
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/14 operating with electron or nuclear magnetic resonance

Abstract

A method and system for canceling extraneous signals in a nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) system used for the detection of explosives and drugs. A specimen is irradiated with a specific sequence of electromagnetic pulses, referred to as a spin-locked inversion mid-echo (SLIME) pulse sequence with each pulse having a specified phase and duration. The pulses are separated by specified time intervals. The SLIME pulse sequence has a single excitation pulse. As a result of the characteristics of the SLIME pulse sequence, if the target substance to be detected is present in the specimen, sets of oppositely-phased NQR echo signals are generated from the target substance. NQR echo signals of one phase are subtracted from NQR echo signals having the opposite phase, rendering a cumulative echo signal, and simultaneously subtracting out the same-phase extraneous signal.

Claims

1. A method for producing improved NQR signals by canceling extraneous signals in an NQR detection system for detecting the presence of a target substance in a specimen, the target substance having quadrupolar nuclei, the nuclei having an NQR resonant frequency, the method comprising:

irradiating the specimen with at least one scan of a sequence of electromagnetic pulses having only a single excitation pulse, the pulse sequence being a spin-locked inversion mid-echo (SLIME) pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulses in the irradiating pulse sequence generally corresponding to the NQR resonant frequency of the target substance, the parameters of the pulses and pulse sequence being functionally effective to excite from the target substance at least one A NQR signal with any contemporaneous extraneous signals, and at least one B NQR signal with any contemporaneous extraneous signals, the phase of each A NQR signal being about opposite to the phase of each B NQR signal and with the phase of the respective extraneous signals being about the same during each A and B NQR signal;

at least once, detecting an A NQR signal and a B NQR signal; and

subtracting said B NQR signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals from said A NQR signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals, thereby producing a cumulative NQR signal and canceling out the extraneous signals.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the subtracting act comprises dividing a plurality of the A NQR signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals into groups, dividing a plurality of the B NQR signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals into groups, calculating the sum of each group, weighting each sum, and calculating the sum of the weighted sums of A NQR signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals and the negative of the weighted sums of B NQR signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the extraneous signals are selected from the group consisting of magneto-acoustic ringing, piezo-electric ringing, and electronic circuit ringing.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the extraneous signals comprise baseline offset.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the A and B NQR signals are echo signals.

6. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the target substance to be detected has a nucleus selected from the group consisting of ¹⁴N, ³⁵C, ³⁷Cl, ²³Na and ³⁹K.

7. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the frequency of each pulse is about constant and is about the same as the frequency of each other pulse.

8. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the amplitude of at least one of the pulses is modulated.

9. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the frequency of at least one of the pulses is modulated.

10. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the amplitude of at least one of the frequency modulated pulses is modulated, and wherein each amplitude and frequency modulated pulse conforms to adiabatic conditions.

11. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the frequency of at least one of the pulses is swept from a first frequency to a second frequency, with the second frequency being about equal to an NQR resonant frequency of the target substance, and wherein each frequency swept pulse conforms to adiabatic conditions.

12. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the frequency of at least one of the pulses is swept from a first frequency, to a second frequency about equal to an NQR resonant frequency of a target substance, to a third frequency, and wherein each frequency swept pulse conforms to adiabatic conditions.

13. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the frequency and amplitude of at least one of the pulses are modulated to produce a substantially rectangular frequency response in the frequency domain about centered around an NQR resonant frequency of a target substance.

14. The method recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the pulses comprises a plurality of segments, and wherein the phase of at least one segment differs from the phase of at least one other segment.

15. In an NQR detection system for detecting the presence of a target substance in a specimen, the target substance having a quadrupolar nuclei, the nuclei having an NQR resonant frequency, there normally being extraneous signals with the detected NQR response signals, a method for canceling the extraneous signals comprising:

irradiating the specimen with a single scan of a sequence of electromagnetic pulses, the sequence having only a single excitation pulse, the pulse sequence being a spin-locked inversion mid-echo (SLIME) pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulses in the irradiating pulse sequence generally corresponding to the NQR resonant frequency of the target substance, the parameters of the pulses and pulse sequence being functionally effective to excite from the target substance at least one A NQR signal with any contemporaneous extraneous signals and at least one B NQR signal with any contemporaneous extraneous signals, the phase of each A NQR signal being about opposite to the phase of each B NQR signal and with the phase of the respective extraneous signals being about the same during each A and B NQR signal;

at least once, detecting an A NQR signal and a B NQR signal; and

subtracting said B NQR signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals from said A NQR signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals, thereby producing a cumulative NQR signal and canceling out the extraneous signals.

16. A method for producing oppositely phased NQR echo signals in an NQR detection system for detecting the presence of a target substance in a specimen, the target substance having a quadrupolar nuclei, the nuclei having an NQR resonant frequency, the method comprising:

employing a spin-locked inversion mid-echo (SLIME) pulse sequence;

(a) irradiating the specimen with an excitation pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about X;

(b) at least once, irradiating the specimen with a first refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and then;

(c) receiving an A echo signal transmitted from the specimen, if any;

(d) irradiating the specimen with a second refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y;

(e) irradiating the specimen with a first inverting pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)};

(f) at least once, irradiating the specimen with a third refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and then;

(g) receiving a B echo signal transmitted from the specimen, if any.

17. A method for producing improved echo signals by canceling extraneous signals in an NQR detection system for detecting the presence of a target substance in a specimen, the target substance having quadrupolar nuclei, the nuclei having an NQR resonant frequency, the method comprising:

employing a spin-locked inversion mid-echo (SLIME) pulse sequence;

(a) irradiating the specimen with only a single excitation pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about X;

(b) at least once irradiating the specimen with a first refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and then;

(c) receiving an A echo signal transmitted from the specimen, together with any contemporaneous extraneous signals;

(d) irradiating the specimen with a second refocusing pulse of the pulse sequence having a phase of about Y;

(e) irradiating the specimen with a first inverting pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)};

(f) at least once irradiating the specimen with a third refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and then;

(g) receiving a B echo signal transmitted from the specimen, together with any contemporaneous signals; and

(h) subtracting one or more B echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals from one or more A echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals to produce a cumulative echo signal and to cancel out the extraneous signals.

18. The method recited in claim 17, and comprising prior to act (b) the further act of, at least once, irradiating the specimen with a first refocusing pulse having a phase of about Y.

19. The method recited in claim 17, and comprising prior to act (f) the further act of, at least once, irradiating the specimen with a third refocusing pulse having a phase of about Y.

20. The method recited in claim 17, wherein the first inverting pulse has a phase of about X.

21. The method recited in claim 17, wherein the first inverting pulse has a phase of about {overscore (X)}.

22. The method recited in claim 17, wherein act (h) comprises dividing a plurality of the A echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals into groups, dividing a plurality of the B echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals into groups, calculating the sum of each group, weighting each sum, and calculating the sum of the weighted sums of A echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals and the negative of the weighted sums of B echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals.

23. The method recited in claim 17, wherein act (b) is performed between about one and about ten thousand times, and act (f) is performed between about one and about ten thousand times.

24. The method recited in claim 17, wherein act (b) and act (f) are each performed m times, wherein m is between about one and about ten thousand.

25. The method recited in claim 17, wherein act (b) is performed m times, and wherein m is about 102.

26. The method recited in claim 17, wherein act (f) is performed m times, and wherein m is about 102.

27. The method recited in claim 17, wherein at least one of the pulses is subdivided into a corresponding set of at least two subpulses, and wherein the sum of the integrated areas of the subpulses in each respective set of subpulses is about equal to the integrated area of the corresponding pulse.

28. The method recited in claim 17, wherein the extraneous signals are selected from the group consisting of magneto-acoustic ringing, piezo-electric ringing, and electronic circuit ringing.

29. The method recited in claim 17, wherein the extraneous signals comprise baseline offset.

30. The method recited in claim 17, wherein the target substance is selected from the group consisting of explosives and drugs.

31. The method recited in claim 17, wherein the target substance to be detected has a nucleus selected from the group consisting of ¹⁴ N, ³⁵Cl, ³⁷Cl, ²³Na and ³⁹K.

32. The method recited in claim 17, wherein the frequency of the pulses is near a ¹⁴N NQR frequency in the target substance to be detected.

33. The method recited in claim 17, wherein the amplitude of at least one of the pulses is modulated.

34. The method recited in claim 17, wherein the frequency of at least one of the pulses is modulated.

35. The method recited in claim 34, wherein the amplitude of at least one of the frequency modulated pulses is modulated, and wherein each amplitude and frequency modulated pulse conforms to adiabatic conditions.

36. The method recited in claim 17, wherein the frequency of at least one of the pulses is swept from a first frequency to a second frequency, with the second frequency being about equal to an NQR resonant frequency of the target substance, and wherein each frequency swept pulse conforms to adiabatic conditions.

37. The method recited in claim 17, wherein the frequency of at least one of the pulses is swept from a first frequency, to a second frequency about equal to an NQR resonant frequency of a target substance, to a third frequency, and wherein each frequency swept pulse conforms to adiabatic conditions.

38. The method recited in claim 17, wherein the frequency and amplitude of at least one of the pulses are modulated to produce a substantially rectangular frequency response in the frequency domain about centered around an NQR resonant frequency of a target substance.

39. The method recited in claim 17, wherein at least one of the pulses comprises a plurality of segments, and wherein the phase of at least one segment differs from the phase of at least one other segment.

40. The method recited in claim 17, and comprising prior to act (h) the further acts of:

(i) at least once, irradiating the specimen with a fourth refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and then;

(j) receiving a B echo signal transmitted from the specimen;

(k) irradiating the specimen with a fifth refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y;

(l) irradiating the specimen with a second inverting pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)};

(m) at least once, irradiating the specimen with a sixth refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and then;

(n) receiving an A echo signal transmitted from the specimen.

41. The method recited in claim 40, and comprising prior to act (h) the further act of, at least once:

(o) repeating acts (b) through (g) and (i) through (n).

42. The method recited in claim 17, and comprising prior to act (h) the further acts of:

(i) irradiating the specimen with a fourth refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y;

(j) irradiating the specimen with a second inverting pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)};

(k) at least once irradiating the specimen with a fifth refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and then;

(l) receiving an A echo signal transmitted from the specimen;

(m) irradiating the specimen with a sixth refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y;

(n) irradiating the specimen with a third inverting pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)};

(o) at least once irradiating the specimen with a seventh refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and then;

(p) receiving a B echo signal transmitted from the specimen.

43. The method recited in claim 42, wherein the first inverting pulse has a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)}, the second inverting pulse has a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)}, and the third inverting pulse has a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)}.

44. The method recited in claim 42, wherein act (b) is performed between about one and about ten thousand times, acts (f) and (g) are performed between about one and about ten thousand times, acts (k) and (l) are performed between about one and about ten thousand times, and acts (o) and (p) are performed between about one and about ten thousand times.

45. The method recited in claim 42, wherein act (b) is performed m times, and wherein m is about 102.

46. The method recited in claim 42, wherein acts (f) and (g) are performed m times, and wherein m is about 102.

47. The method recited in claim 42, wherein acts (k) and (l) are performed m times, and wherein m is about 102.

48. The method recited in claim 42, wherein acts (o) and (p) are performed m times, and wherein m is about 102.

49. The method recited in claim 17, wherein at least one of the pulses is subdivided into a corresponding set of at least two subpulses, and wherein the sum of the integrated areas of the subpulses in each respective set of subpulses is about equal to the integrated area of the corresponding pulse.

50. The method recited in claim 42, and comprising prior to act (h) the further acts of, at least once:

(q) irradiating the specimen with an eighth refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y;

(r) irradiating the specimen with a fourth inverting pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)}; and

(s) repeating acts (b) through (g) and (i) through (p).

51. The method recited in claim 50, wherein the phase of the first and second inverting pulses is about {overscore (X)}, and the phase of the third and fourth inverting pulses is about X.

52. The method recited in claim 50, wherein the phase of the first and fourth inverting pulses is about {overscore (X)}, and the phase of the second and third inverting pulses is about X.

53. The method recited in claim 50, wherein the sequence of acts (q) through (s) is executed n−

1 times, wherein n is between about one and about one hundred thousand.

54. The method recited in claim 53, wherein n is about 8.

55. The method recited in claim 42, and comprising in the following order the further acts of:

(q) waiting, after the seventh refocusing pulse, a time of at least about 0.5 the T₁ time of a quadrupolar nucleus to be excited in the target substance;

(r) irradiating the specimen with an excitation pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about {overscore (X)};

(s) at least once irradiating the specimen with a first refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and then;

(t) receiving a B echo signal transmitted from the specimen;

(u) irradiating the specimen with a second refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y;

(v) irradiating the specimen with a first inverting pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)};

(w) at least once irradiating the specimen with a third refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and then;

(x) receiving an A echo signal transmitted from the specimen;

(y) irradiating the specimen with a fourth refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y;

(z) irradiating the specimen with a second inverting pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)};

(aa) at least once irradiating the specimen with a fifth refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and then;

(ab) receiving a B echo signal transmitted from the specimen;

(ac) irradiating the specimen with a sixth refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y;

(ad) irradiating the specimen with a third inverting pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)};

(ae) at least once irradiating the specimen with a seventh refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and then;

(af) receiving an A echo signal transmitted from the specimen.

56. A method for producing oppositely phased NQR echo signals in an NQR detection system for detecting the presence of a target substance in a specimen, the target substance having quadrupolar nuclei, the nuclei having an NQR resonant frequency, the method comprising:

employing a spin-locked inversion mid-echo (SLIME) pulse sequence;

(a) irradiating the specimen with only a single excitation pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about X, and a duration of about τ

_ex, and then;

(b) waiting a time of about τ

₃;

(c) at least once irradiating the specimen with a first refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and duration of about τ

_ref;

(d) irradiating the specimen with a second refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and a duration of about τ

_ref, and then;

(e) waiting a time of about τ

₁;

(f) irradiating the specimen with a first inverting pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)}, and having a duration of about 2τ

_inv, and then;

(g) waiting a time of about τ

₁; and

(h) at least once irradiating the specimen with a third refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and a duration of about τ

_ref.

57. A method for canceling extraneous signals in an NQR detection system for detecting the presence of a target substance in a specimen, the target substance having quadrupolar nuclei, the nuclei having an NQR resonant frequency, the method comprising:

employing a spin-locked inversion mid-echo (SLIME) pulse sequence;

(a) irradiating the specimen with only a single excitation pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about X, and a duration of about τ

_ex, and then;

(b) waiting a time of about τ

₃;

(c) at least once irradiating the specimen with a first refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and duration of about τ

_ref, and then;

(d) receiving during a time of about 2τ

an A echo signal and any contemporaneous extraneous signals transmitted from the specimen;

(e) irradiating the specimen with a second refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and a duration of about τ

_ref, and then;

(f) waiting a time of about τ

₁;

(g) irradiating the specimen with a first inverting pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)}, and having a duration of about 2τ

_inv, and then;

(h) waiting a time of about τ

₁;

(i) at least once irradiating the specimen with a third refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and a duration of about τ

_ref, and then;

(j) receiving during a time of about 2τ

a B echo signal and any contemporaneous extraneous signals transmitted from the specimen; and

(k) subtracting one or more B echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals from one or more A echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals to produce a cumulative echo signal and to cancel out the extraneous signals.

58. The method recited in claim 57, and comprising prior to act (c) the further act of, at least once, irradiating the specimen with a first refocusing pulse having a phase of about Y, and duration of about τ

_ref.

59. The method recited in claim 57, and comprising prior to act (h) the further act of, at least once, irradiating the specimen with a third refocusing pulse having a phase of about Y, and duration of about τ

_ref.

60. The method recited in claim 57, wherein the first inverting pulse is selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)}.

61. The method recited in claim 57, wherein act (c) is performed between about one and about ten thousand times, and acts (i) and (j) are performed between about one and about ten thousand times.

62. The method recited in claim 57, wherein act (c) and acts (i) and (j) are each performed m times, wherein m is between about one and about ten thousand.

63. The method recited in claim 57, wherein act (c) is performed ni times, and wherein m is about 102.

64. The method recited in claim 57, wherein acts (e) and (f) are performed m times, and wherein m is about 102.

65. The method recited in claim 57, wherein at least one of the pulses is subdivided into a corresponding set of at least two subpulses, and wherein the sum of the integrated areas of the subpulses in each respective set of subpulses is about equal to the integrated area of the corresponding pulse.

66. The method recited in claim 57, wherein the amplitude of at least one of the pulses is modulated.

67. The method recited in claim 57, wherein the frequency of at least one of the pulses is modulated.

68. The method recited in claim 57, wherein the target substance to be detected has a nucleus selected from the group consisting of ¹⁴N, ³⁵Cl, ³⁷Cl, ²³Na and ³⁹K.

69. The method recited in claim 57, wherein τ

_ex is between about one microsecond and about ten milliseconds.

70. The method recited in claim 57, wherein τ

_ref is between about one microsecond and about ten milliseconds.

71. The method recited in claim 57, wherein τ

_inv is between about one microsecond and about ten milliseconds.

72. The method recited in claim 57, wherein τ

is between about one microsecond and about one hundred milliseconds.

73. The method recited in claim 57, wherein τ

₁ is between about zero microseconds and about one hundred milliseconds.

74. The method recited in claim 57, wherein τ

₃ is between about one microsecond and about one hundred milliseconds.

75. The method recited in claim 57, wherein τ

₁ is about equal to τ

.

76. The method recited in claim 57, wherein τ

₃ is about equal to τ

.

77. The method recited in claim 57, wherein τ

_inv is about equal to τ

_ex.

78. The method recited in claim 57, wherein τ

_ref is about equal to 1.25τ

_ex.

79. The method recited in claim 57, and comprising prior to act (k) the further acts of:

(l) at least once irradiating the specimen with a fourth refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and duration of about τ

_ref, and then;

(m) receiving during a time of about 2τ

a B echo signal transmitted from the specimen;

(n) irradiating the specimen with a fifth refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and a duration of about τ

_ref, and then;

(o) waiting a time of about τ

₁;

(p) irradiating the specimen with a second inverting pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)}, and having a duration of about 2τ

_inv, and then;

(q) waiting a time of about τ

₁;

(r) at least once irradiating the specimen with a sixth refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and duration of about τ

_ref, and then;

(s) receiving during a time of about 2τ

an A echo signal transmitted from the specimen.

80. The method recited in claim 79, and comprising prior to act (k) the further acts of, at least once:

(t) repeating acts (c) through (j) and (l) through (s).

81. The method recited in claim 57, and comprising prior to act (k) the further acts of:

(l) irradiating the specimen with a fourth refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and a duration of about τ

_ref, and then;

(m) waiting a time of about τ

₁;

(n) irradiating the specimen with a second inverting pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)}, and having a duration of about 2τ

_inv, and then;

(o) waiting a time of about τ

₁;

(p) at least once irradiating the specimen with a fifth refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and duration of about τ

_ref, and then;

(q) receiving during a time of about 2τ

an A echo signal transmitted from the specimen;

(r) irradiating the specimen with a sixth refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and a duration of about τ

_ref, and then;

(s) waiting a time of about τ

₁;

(t) irradiating the specimen with a third inverting pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)}, and having a duration of about 2τ

_inv, and then;

(u) waiting a time of about τ

₁;

(v) at least once, irradiating the specimen with a seventh refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and a duration of about τ

_ref, and then;

(w) receiving during a time of about 2τ

a B echo signal transmitted from the specimen.

82. The method recited in claim 81, wherein the first inverting pulse has a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)}, the second inverting pulse has a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)}, and the third inverting pulse has a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)}.

83. The method recited in claim 81, wherein acts (c) and (d) are performed between about one and about ten thousand times, acts (i) and (j) are performed between about one and about ten thousand times, acts (p) and (q) are performed between about one and about ten thousand times, and acts (v) and (w) are performed between about one and about ten thousand times.

84. The method recited in claim 81, wherein at least one of the pulses is subdivided into a corresponding set of at least two subpulses, and wherein the sum of the integrated areas of the subpulses in each respective set of subpulses is about equal to the integrated area of the corresponding pulse.

85. The method recited in claim 81, and comprising prior to act (k) the further acts of, at least once:

(x) irradiating the specimen with an eighth refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and a duration of about τ

_ref, and then;

(y) waiting a time of about τ

₁;

(z) irradiating the specimen with a fourth inverting pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)}, and having a duration of about 2τ

_inv, and then;

(aa) waiting a time of about τ

₁; and

(ab) repeating acts (c) through (f) and (l) through (w).

86. The method recited in claim 85, wherein the sequence of acts (x) through (ab) is executed n−

1 times, wherein n is between about one and about one hundred thousand.

87. The method recited in claim 86, wherein n is about 8.

88. The method recited in claim 85, wherein the first inverting pulse is subdivided into an A-first inverting subpulse and a B-first inverting subpulse with the sum of the durations of the A-first inverting subpulse and the B-first inverting subpulse being about 2τ

_inv, and wherein the second inverting pulse is subdivided into an A-second inverting subpulse and a B-second inverting subpulse with the sum of the durations of the A-second inverting subpulse and the B-second inverting subpulse being about 2τ

_inv, and wherein the third inverting pulse is subdivided into an A-third inverting subpulse and a B-third inverting subpulse with the sum of the durations of the A-third inverting subpulse and the B-third inverting subpulse being about 2τ

_inv, and wherein the fourth inverting pulse is subdivided into an A-fourth inverting subpulse and a B-fourth inverting subpulse with the sum of the durations of the A-fourth inverting subpulse and the B-fourth inverting subpulse being about 2τ

_inv.

89. The method recited in claim 88, wherein the A-first inverting subpulse and the B-first inverting subpulse are separated by a waiting time of about τ

₂, and wherein the A-second inverting subpulse and the B-second inverting subpulse are separated by a waiting time of about τ

₂, and wherein the A-third inverting subpulse and the B-third inverting subpulse are separated by a waiting time of about τ

₂, and wherein the A-fourth inverting subpulse and the B-fourth inverting subpulse are separated by a waiting time of about τ

₂, and wherein τ

₂ is between about zero microseconds and about one hundred milliseconds.

90. A method employing NQR for canceling extraneous signals and for detecting the presence of a target substance in a specimen, the target substance having quadrupolar nuclei, the nuclei having an NQR resonant frequency, the method comprising:

irradiating the specimen with at least one scan of a sequence of electromagnetic pulses having only a single excitation pulse, the pulse sequence being a spin-locked inversion mid-echo (SLIME) pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulses in the irradiating pulse sequence generally corresponding to the NQR resonant frequency of the target substance, the parameters of the pulses and pulse sequence being functionally effective to excite from the target substance at least one A NQR signal with any contemporaneous extraneous signals, and at least one B NQR signal with any contemporaneous extraneous signals, the phase of each A NQR signal being about opposite the phase of each B NQR signal and with the phase of the respective extraneous signals being about the same during each A and B NQR signal;

at least once, detecting an A NQR signal and a B NQR signal;

subtracting said B NQR signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals from said A NQR signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals, thereby producing a cumulative NQR signal and canceling out the extraneous signals;

comparing at least one characteristic of the cumulative NQR signal with at least one known characteristic of an NQR signal from at least one target substance to determine the presence of the target substance, the absence of the target substance, or an indeterminate result; and

indicating either the presence of the target substance, the absence of the target substance, or an indeterminate result.

91. A method employing NQR for canceling extraneous signals and for detecting the presence of a target substance in a specimen, the target substance having quadrupolar nuclei, the nuclei having an NQR resonant frequency, the method comprising:

employing a spin-locked inversion mid-echo (SLIME) pulse sequence;

(a) irradiating the specimen with only a single excitation pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about X;

(b) at least once irradiating the specimen with a first refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and then;

(c) receiving an A echo signal with any contemporaneous extraneous signals transmitted from the specimen;

(d) irradiating the specimen with a second refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y;

(e) irradiating the specimen with a first inverting pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)};

(f) at least once irradiating the specimen with a third refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and then;

(g) receiving a B echo signal with any contemporaneous extraneous signals transmitted from the specimen;

(h) subtracting said B echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals from said A echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals, thereby producing a cumulative echo signal and canceling out the extraneous signals;

(i) storing at least one characteristic of an NQR signal from at least one target substance;

(j) comparing at least one characteristic of the cumulative echo signal with at least one stored characteristic of an NQR signal from at least one target substance to determine the presence of the target substance, the absence of the target substance, or an indeterminate result; and

(k) indicating either the presence of the target substance, the absence of the target substance, or an indeterminate result.

92. A method employing NQR for canceling extraneous signals and for detecting the presence of a target substance in a specimen, the target substance having quadrupolar nuclei, the nuclei having an NQR resonant frequency, the method comprising:

employing a spin-locked in version mid-echo (SLIME) pulse sequence;

(a) irradiating the specimen with only a single excitation pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about X, and a duration of about τ

_ex, and then;

(b) waiting a time of about τ

₃;

(c) at least once irradiating the specimen with a first refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and duration of about τ

_ref, and then;

(d) receiving during a time of about 2τ

an A echo signal and any contemporaneous extraneous signals transmitted from the specimen;

(e) irradiating the specimen with a second refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and a duration of about τ

_ref, and then;

(f) waiting a time of about τ

₁;

(g) irradiating the specimen with a first inverting pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)}, and having a duration of about 2τ

_inv, and then;

(h) waiting a time of about τ

₁;

(i) at least once irradiating the specimen with a third refocusing pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about Y, and a duration of about τ

_ref, and then;

(j) receiving during a time of about 2τ

a B echo signal and any contemporaneous extraneous signals transmitted from the specimen;

(k) subtracting said B echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals from said A echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals, thereby producing a cumulative echo signal and canceling out the extraneous signals;

(l) comparing at least one characteristic of the cumulative echo signal with at least one known characteristic of an NQR signal from at least one target substance to determine the presence of the target substance, the absence of the target substance, or an indeterminate result; and

(m) indicating either the presence of the target substance, the absence of the target substance, or an indeterminate result.

93. A system for producing improved NQR signals by canceling extraneous signals for use in a NQR substance detector for detecting the presence of a target substance in a specimen, the target substance having quadrupolar nuclei, the nuclei having an NQR resonant frequency, the system comprising:

means for irradiating the specimen with a sequence of electromagnetic pulses having only a single excitation pulse, the sequence having only a single excitation pulse, the pulse sequence being a spin-locked inversion mid-echo (SLIME) pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulses in the irradiating pulse sequence generally corresponding to the NQR resonant frequency of the target substance, the parameters of the pulses and pulse sequence being functionally effective to excite from the target substance at least one A NQR signal with any contemporaneous extraneous signals transmitted from the specimen and at least one B NQR signal with any contemporaneous extraneous signals transmitted from the specimen, with the phase of each A NQR signal being about opposite the phase of each B NQR signal and with the phase of the respective extraneous signals being about the same during each A and B NQR signal;

means for, at least once, detecting an A NQR signal and a B NQR signal; and

means for subtracting said B echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals from said A echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals, thereby producing a cumulative NQR signal and canceling out the extraneous signals.

94. The system recited in claim 93, wherein the target substance to be detected has a nucleus selected from the group consisting of ¹⁴N, ³⁵Cl, ³⁷Cl, ²³Na and ³⁹K.

95. The system recited in claim 93, wherein the amplitude of at least one of the pulses is modulated.

96. The system recited in claim 93, wherein the frequency of at least one of the pulses is modulated.

97. The system recited in claim 93, wherein the frequency of at least one of the pulses is swept from a first frequency to a second frequency, and wherein each frequency swept pulse conforms to adiabatic conditions.

98. The system recited in claim 93, wherein the frequency and amplitude of at least one of the pulses are modulated to produce a substantially rectangular frequency response in the frequency domain about centered around an NQR resonant frequency of a target substance.

99. The system recited in claim 93, wherein at least one of the pulses comprises a plurality of segments, and wherein the phase of at least one segment differs from the phase of at least one other segment.

100. A system for canceling extraneous signals for use in an NQR substance detector for detecting the presence of a target substance in a specimen, the target substance having quadrupolar nuclei, the nuclei having an NQR resonant frequency, the system comprising:

(a) means for generating a spin-locked inversion mid-echo (SLIME) pulse sequence;

(b) means for irradiating the specimen with only a single excitation pulse from said pulse sequence, the excitation pulse having a phase of about X;

(c) means for, at least once, irradiating the specimen with a first refocusing pulse from said pulse sequence, the first refocusing pulse having a phase of about Y;

(d) means for receiving an A echo signal and any contemporaneous extraneous transmitted from the specimen;

(e) means for irradiating the specimen with a second refocusing pulse from said pulse sequence, the second refocusing pulse having a phase of about Y;

(f) means for irradiating the specimen with a first inverting pulse from said pulse sequence, the first inverting pulse having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)};

(g) means for, at least once, irradiating the specimen with a third refocusing pulse from said pulse sequence, the third refocusing having a phase of about Y;

(h) means for receiving a B echo signal and any contemporaneous extraneous transmitted from the specimen; and

(i) means for subtracting said B echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals from said A echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals to produce a cumulative echo signal and to cancel out the extraneous signals.

101. The system recited in claim 100, wherein the frequency of at least one of the pulses is modulated.

102. In an NQR substance detector for detecting the presence of a target substance in a specimen, the target substance having quadrupolar nuclei, the nuclei having an NQR resonant frequency, there being extraneous signals with the detected NQR response signals, a system for producing improved echo signals by canceling the extraneous signals, the system comprising:

(a) means for generating a spin-locked inversion mid-echo (SLIME) pulse sequence;

(b) means for irradiating the specimen with only a single excitation pulse from said pulse sequence, the excitation pulse having a phase of about X, and a duration of about τ

_ex, and then waiting a time of about τ

₃;

(c) means for, at least once, irradiating the specimen with a first refocusing pulse from said pulse sequence, the first refocusing pulse having a phase of about Y, and duration of about τ

_ref;

(d) means for receiving during a time of about 2τ

an A echo signal and any contemporaneous extraneous transmitted from the specimen;

(e) means for irradiating the specimen with a second refocusing pulse from said pulse sequence, the second refocusing pulse having a phase of about Y, and a duration of about τ

_ref, and then waiting a time of about τ

₁;

(f) means for irradiating the specimen with a first inverting pulse from said pulse sequence, the first investing pulse having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)}, and having a duration of about 2τ

_inv, and then waiting a time of about τ

₁;

(g) means for, at least once, irradiating the specimen with a third refocusing pulse from said pulse sequence, the third refocusing pulse having a phase of about Y, and a duration of about τ

_ref;

(h) means for receiving during a time of about 2τ

a B echo signal and any contemporaneous extraneous transmitted from the specimen; and

(i) means for subtracting said B echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals from said A echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals to produce a cumulative echo signal and to cancel out the extraneous signals.

103. A system employing NQR for detecting the presence of a target substance in a specimen by canceling extraneous signals to produce improved NQR signals, the target substance having quadrupolar nuclei, the nuclei having an NQR resonant frequency, the system comprising:

means for irradiating the specimen with a sequence of electromagnetic pulses having only a single excitation pulse, the pulse sequence being a spin-locked inversion mid-echo (SLIME) pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulses in the irradiating pulse sequence generally corresponding to the NQR resonant frequency of the target substance, the parameters of the pulses and pulse sequence being functionally effective to excite from the target substance at least one A NQR signal with any contemporaneous extraneous transmitted from the specimen and at least one B NQR signal with any contemporaneous extraneous transmitted from the specimen, with the phase of each A NQR signal being about opposite the phase of each B NQR signal and with the phase of the respective extraneous signals being about the same during each A and B NQR signal;

means for, at least once, detecting an A NQR signal and a B NQR signal;

means for subtracting said B NQR signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals from said A NQR signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals to produce a cumulative NQR signal and to cancel out the extraneous signals;

means for comparing at least one characteristic of the cumulative NQR signal with at least one known characteristic of an NQR signal from at least one target substance to determine the presence of the target substance, the absence of the target substance, or an indeterminate result; and

means for indicating the presence of the target substance, the absence of the target substance, or an indeterminate result.

104. An NQR detection system for canceling extraneous signals and detecting the presence of a target substance in a specimen, the target substance having quadrupolar nuclei, the nuclei having an NQR resonant frequency, the system comprising:

(a) means for generating a spin-locked inversion mid-echo (SLIME) pulse sequence;

(b) means for irradiating the specimen with only a single excitation RF pulse of said pulse sequence having a phase of about X;

(c) means for, at least once, irradiating the specimen with a first refocusing RF pulse from said pulse sequence, the first refocusing pulse having a phase of about Y;

(d) means for receiving an A RF echo signal transmitted from the specimen;

(e) means for irradiating the specimen with a second refocusing RF pulse from said pulse sequence, the second refocusing pulse having a phase of about Y;

(f) means for irradiating the specimen with a first inverting RF pulse from said pulse sequence, the first inverting pulse having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)};

(g) means for, at least once, irradiating the specimen with a third refocusing RF pulse from said pulse sequence, the third refocusing pulse having a phase of about Y;

(h) means for receiving a B RF echo signal with any contemporaneous extraneous signals transmitted from the specimen;

(i) means for subtracting said B RF echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals from said A RF echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals to produce a cumulative RF echo signal and to cancel out the extraneous signals;

(j) means for comparing at least one characteristic of the cumulative RF echo signal with at least one known characteristic of an NQR signal from at least one target substance to determine the presence of the target substance, the absence of the target substance, or an indeterminate result; and

(k) means for indicating the presence of the target substance, the absence of the target substance, or an indeterminate result.

105. An NQR detection system for canceling extraneous signals and detecting the presence of a target substance in a specimen, the target substance having quadrupolar nuclei, the nuclei having an NQR resonant frequency, the system comprising:

(a) means for generating a spin-locked inversion mid-echo (SLIME) pulse sequence;

(b) means for irradiating the specimen with only a single excitation pulse from having a phase of about X, and a duration of about τ

_ex, and then waiting a time of about τ

₃;

(c) means for, at least once, irradiating the specimen with a first refocusing pulse from said pulse sequence, the first refocusing pulse having a phase of about Y, and duration of about τ

_ref;

(d) means for receiving during a time of about 2τ

an A echo signal with any contemporaneous extraneous transmitted from the specimen;

(e) means for irradiating the specimen with a second refocusing pulse from said pulse sequence, the second refocusing pulse having a phase of about Y, and a duration of about τ

_ref, and then waiting a time of about τ

₁;

(f) means for irradiating the specimen with a first inverting pulse from said pulse sequence, the first inverting pulse having a phase selected from the group consisting of about X and about {overscore (X)}, and having a duration of about 2τ

_inv, and then waiting a time of about τ

₁;

(g) means for, at least once, irradiating the specimen with a third refocusing pulse from said pulse sequence, the third refocusing pulse having a phase of about Y, and a duration of about τ

_ref;

(h) means for receiving during a time of about 2τ

a B echo signal with any contemporaneous extraneous signals transmitted from the specimen;

(i) means for subtracting said B echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals from said A echo signals and contemporaneous extraneous signals to produce a cumulative echo signal and to cancel out the extraneous signals;

(j) means for storing at least one characteristic of an NQR signal from at least one target substance;

(k) means for comparing at least one characteristic of the cumulative echo signal with at least one stored characteristic of an NQR signal from at least one target substance to determine the presence of the target substance, the absence of the target substance, or an indeterminate result; and

(l) means for indicating the presence of the target substance, the absence of the target substance, or an indeterminate result.

106. A method for producing improved NQR signals by canceling extraneous signals in an NQR detection system for detecting the presence of a target substance in a specimen, the target substance having quadrupolar nuclei, the nuclei having an NQR resonant frequency, the method comprising:

applying to the specimen a spin-locked inversion mid-echo (SLIME) pulse sequence having a single excitation pulse, each pulse in the sequence having a predetermined phase and duration, the pulses in the sequence being separated by predetermined time intervals, the pulse frequency being about the same as the NQR frequency of the target substance and, when the target substance is present in the specimen the SLIME pulse sequence manipulates the orientations of the magnetic moments of the quadrupolar nuclei of the target substance so that those nuclei generate oppositely-phased sets of NQR echo signals;

receiving the NQR echo signals and any extraneous signals in the detection system, the extraneous signals not being oppositely-phased;

subtracting NQR signals of one phase from the oppositely-phased NQR signals to produce a cumulative echo signals; and

subtracting out the same phase extraneous signals.