This course provides theoretical background in NMR spectroscopy for students interested in using the technique during their doctoral studies. This is a self mentored study program: materials will be provided for individual study.
The course aims to provide the student with a solid foundation in NMR principles and theory, while allowing for extension to specific advanced topics relevant to the student's own research. Study will be guided by selected reference books, complemented with specialist literature and additional material suggested by the postdoctoral mentor.
By the end of the course, the student will be able to:
* Explain the fundamental principles and physics underpinning the NMR phenomena.
* Understand how those principles are exploited in the design of pulse sequence elements, for example in recoupling/decoupling sequences.
* Use those principles to construct and design their own advanced experimental methods, and so connect the basic principles of NMR to their research questions.
* Critically analyse and understand the NMR literature.
The specific topics which will be covered include:
* An introduction to the mechanics underlying NMR, specifically (but not limited to) the density matrix formalism, semi-classical relaxation theory, and spin system simulation and modelling.
* The physical Hamiltonians and operators describing the NMR phenomenon, and how these interact with one another.
* Relaxation behaviour (e.g., R1, R2, R1rho), and how these relate to molecular motion and act as confounds in other experiments.
* An overview of advanced experimental methods, and how and when these should be applied.
* Other select advanced topics depending on the student's specific research interests.
The primary drive of the course will be based on 'Nuclear Magnetic Resonance' and 'NMR: The Toolkit: How Pulse Sequences Work' by P. Hore (Oxford Chemistry Primers, 2nd Edition), with additional complementary material introduced through the course.
Though the course does not have a formal assessment, the course will have specific tasks to put the theory into practice, including implementing the matrix mathematics underpinning the density matrix formalism to simulate the spin dynamics of simple spin systems. This modelling will be exploited not only to help the student better grasp the concepts, but also as a drive to further experimental modelling.
Target group: PhD Students
Prerequisites: None
Evaluation: Participation
Teaching format: Mentored study
ECTS: 3 Year: 2025
Track segment(s):
Service
Teacher(s):
Benjamin Tatman
Teaching assistant(s):
- Teacher: Benjamin Tatman