Scanning a band of frequencies using an array of high temperature superconductor sensors tuned to different frequencies
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting the presence of nuclear quadrupole resonance signals in a sample by scanning the sample with a band of frequencies Δ
- F using a nuclear quadrupole resonance detection system comprising an array of n high temperature superconductor sensors, wherein n≧
2 and the bandwidth of each sensor is Δ
f, the method comprising the steps of;
a) determining r different frequencies that span the band of frequencies Δ
F when using sensors with bandwidths Δ
f, wherein r is of the order of Δ
F/Δ
f;
b) tuning the resonance frequency of each of the n sensors to a different one of the r frequencies, and maintaining the resonance frequencies of the n sensors for a selected period of time;
c) retuning the resonance frequency of some or all of the n sensors to any of the r different frequencies that were not used in any previous step by any sensor, wherein the n sensors have n different resonance frequencies, and maintaining the resonance frequencies of the n sensors for a selected period of time; and
d) repeating step (c) until all the r different frequencies have been used as resonance frequencieswhereby every one of the r frequencies is used to scan the sample for the presence of nuclear quadrupole resonance signals provided that no one frequency is used on two different sensors.
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Abstract
The methods of the invention for scanning a band of frequencies using a nuclear quadrupole resonance detection system with an array of high temperature superconductor sensors to detect nuclear quadrupole resonance signals improve the nuclear quadrupole resonance detection system performance.
103 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for detecting the presence of nuclear quadrupole resonance signals in a sample by scanning the sample with a band of frequencies Δ
- F using a nuclear quadrupole resonance detection system comprising an array of n high temperature superconductor sensors, wherein n≧
2 and the bandwidth of each sensor is Δ
f, the method comprising the steps of;a) determining r different frequencies that span the band of frequencies Δ
F when using sensors with bandwidths Δ
f, wherein r is of the order of Δ
F/Δ
f;b) tuning the resonance frequency of each of the n sensors to a different one of the r frequencies, and maintaining the resonance frequencies of the n sensors for a selected period of time; c) retuning the resonance frequency of some or all of the n sensors to any of the r different frequencies that were not used in any previous step by any sensor, wherein the n sensors have n different resonance frequencies, and maintaining the resonance frequencies of the n sensors for a selected period of time; and d) repeating step (c) until all the r different frequencies have been used as resonance frequencies whereby every one of the r frequencies is used to scan the sample for the presence of nuclear quadrupole resonance signals provided that no one frequency is used on two different sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- F using a nuclear quadrupole resonance detection system comprising an array of n high temperature superconductor sensors, wherein n≧
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8. A nuclear quadrupole resonance detection system configured for scanning a sample, comprising:
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a) n high temperature superconductor sensors, each with bandwidth Δ
f, in order to scan a band of frequencies Δ
F and detect any nuclear quadrupole resonance signal within the band of frequencies Δ
F, wherein n≧
2;b) means to tune the resonance frequencies of the n sensors to n different frequencies, wherein the n different frequencies are selected from the group of r different frequencies that span the band of frequencies Δ
F using sensors with bandwidths Δ
f, and wherein r is of the order of Δ
F/Δ
f; andc) means to simultaneously retune the resonance frequencies of the n sensors to n different frequencies that are not any of the r different frequencies used previously as resonance frequencies, and to continue to retune the n sensors in the same manner until all the r different frequencies have been used as resonance frequencies. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A nuclear quadrupole resonance detection system configured for scanning a sample, comprising:
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a) n high temperature superconductor sensors, each with bandwidth Δ
f, in order to scan a band of frequencies Δ
F and detect any nuclear quadrupole resonance signal within the band of frequencies Δ
F, wherein n≧
2; andb) means to tune the resonance frequencies of each of the n sensors to r different frequencies, wherein the r different frequencies span the band of frequencies Δ
F using sensors with bandwidths Δ
f and wherein r is of the order of Δ
F/Δ
f;wherein the n high temperature superconductor sensors solely detect nuclear quadrupole resonance signals and wherein each high temperature superconductor sensor is comprised of a high temperature superconductor self-resonant planar coil. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification