Detecting quadrupole resonance signals using high temperature superconducting resonators
First Claim
1. An apparatus to assist detection of an analyte within a sample volume using nuclear quadrupole resonance (QR), the analyte having a QR response at a response frequency, the apparatus comprising:
- a superconducting resonator having a resonance frequency;
a coarse frequency control operable to adjust the resonance frequency so as to be proximate to the expected response frequency;
a fine frequency control operable to adjust the resonance frequency over a frequency band including the expected response frequency; and
an electronic module, operable to adjust the coarse frequency control so that the resonance frequency is close to the response frequency; and
and further operable to adjust the fine frequency control so as to locate the response frequency within the frequency band.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Narrowband quadrupole resonance (QR) probes were developed from thin-film high-temperature superconducting (HTS) resonators. The QR probes are useful in analyte-detection systems, in particular for the detection of nitrogen-containing compounds. Embodiments of the invention provide greater than an order of magnitude improvement in sensitivity and the ability to reject RF interference sources located outside the pass-band of a superconducting QR probe. Methods and apparatus are described for analyte detection and resonance frequency adjustment.
73 Citations
13 Claims
-
1. An apparatus to assist detection of an analyte within a sample volume using nuclear quadrupole resonance (QR), the analyte having a QR response at a response frequency, the apparatus comprising:
-
a superconducting resonator having a resonance frequency; a coarse frequency control operable to adjust the resonance frequency so as to be proximate to the expected response frequency; a fine frequency control operable to adjust the resonance frequency over a frequency band including the expected response frequency; and an electronic module, operable to adjust the coarse frequency control so that the resonance frequency is close to the response frequency; and and further operable to adjust the fine frequency control so as to locate the response frequency within the frequency band. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification