Underpinning Equipment for Magnetic Resonance Research

核磁共振（NMR）是一种技术，它利用许多原子的原子核作为微小的无线电发射器，以精确定义的频率发射无线电信号，可以通过仔细调谐的检测器检测到。在核磁共振实验中，首先将样品置于强磁场中一段时间，使原子核磁化。然后将一系列射频脉冲施加到样品上，样品随后发射无线电波，无线电波在无线电接收器中被检测到。发射波的图案提供了关于样品的化学成分和空间分布的信息。核磁共振的一个应用被称为磁共振成像（MRI）。这在医院中用于构建人体内部的图像，并且对于疾病和损伤的诊断非常有用。南安普顿大学的磁共振研究中心是世界领先的核磁共振和磁共振成像研究开发机构。目前，我们正在开发的技术，增强核磁共振信号的数千倍，这可能导致的方法，临床检测和诊断癌症的MRI，以及许多其他应用在材料科学，生物化学，分析化学和量子物理。用户群的规模正在迅速增长，研究活动和合作的范围也在迅速扩大。我们的核心研究组合主要由EPSRC，皇家学会和欧盟委员会的赠款支持，总价值超过800万英镑。其中包括最近在极具竞争力的未来和新兴技术开放（FETopen）计划下获得的180万英镑EPSRC平台赠款和欧盟委员会290万英镑的奖励。该提案旨在为升级核磁共振光谱仪提供资金，该光谱仪是南安普顿大学磁共振光谱和成像领域前沿研究的基础。申请拨款的目的是：（i）以现代化系统更换一个老化和过时的400兆赫核磁共振控制台;（ii）以现代化的700兆赫系统更换第二个老化的400兆赫核磁共振控制台;（iii）提供一个400兆赫核磁共振控制台，以提高我们自制设备的生产力和能力，该设备能够将核磁共振信号增强很大的系数。我们将重新使用现有的核磁共振磁铁，以降低成本。这些升级和更换将使我们的研究设施达到国际标准，并以高度成本效益的方式显着提高我们执行，扩展和应用尖端研究能力的能力。

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is a technique which uses the fact that the nuclei of many atoms act as tiny radio-transmitters, emitting radio signals at precisely-defined frequencies, which can be detected by a carefully-tuned detector. In an NMR experiment, the nuclei are first magnetised by placing a sample in a strong magnetic field for some time. A sequence of radiofrequency pulses is then applied to the sample, which subsequently emits radiowaves which are detected in the radio receiver. The pattern of emitted waves provides information on the chemical composition and spatial distribution of the sample. One application of NMR is called Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This is used in hospitals to construct images of the interior of the human body, and is enormously useful for the diagnosis of diseases and injuries. The magnetic resonance research centre of the University of Southampton is a world-leading facility for NMR and MRI research development. We are currently developing techniques which enhance NMR signals by factors of many thousands, which may lead to methods for the clinical detection and diagnosis of cancer by MRI, as well as numerous other applications in materials science, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, and quantum physics. The user group is growing rapidly in size, as is the range of research activities and collaborations. Our core research portfolio is supported by grants mostly from EPSRC, the Royal Society, and the EU Commission, with a total value in excess of £8M. These include recent awards of a £1.8M EPSRC Platform Grant and a £2.9M award from the EU Commission under the extremely competitive Future and Emerging Technologies - Open (FETopen) scheme. This proposal seeks funding for upgrading NMR spectrometers that underpin cutting-edge research in magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging at the University of Southampton. Funds are requested for (i) the replacement of an ageing and obsolete 400MHz NMR console by a modern system; (ii) replacement of a second ageing 400MHz NMR console by a modern 700MHz system; (iii) provision of a workhorse 400MHz NMR console to enhance the productivity and capabilities of our homebuilt equipment which is capable of enhancing NMR signals by large factors. We will reuse our existing NMR magnets so as to keep costs down. These upgrades and replacements will being our research facility up to the international standard and significantly enhance our capability to perform, expand, and apply our cutting-edge research capabilities, in a highly cost-effective manner.