Apparatus for SQUID-detected nuclear magnetic resonance

核磁共振（NMR）是一种非常强大的研究工具，基于对某些原子核发出的电磁信号的检测。 这些信号的频率与原子所处的磁环境有着独特的联系，因此可以提供有关各种物理，化学，生物和材料特性的非常精确的信息。例如，来自我们体内氢原子的NMR信号可以非侵入性地检测到，并用于定位和诊断损伤或疾病。这种技术被称为磁共振成像（MRI），是现代医学中最重要的工具之一。近年来，已经证明，氙气，当使用一种称为光泵的方法特别制备时，具有特别强的NMR信号，特别适合于肺部的MR成像。 我们正在开发一项研究计划，以进一步探索氙气的NMR和MRI应用。 特别是，我们计划使用一种非常敏感的设备，称为超导量子干涉设备或SQUID，来检测氙信号。这将使我们能够开发超灵敏的测量技术和仪器，例如，可以用于以前所未有的分辨率研究肺部生理学和疾病。

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a very powerful research tool based on the detection of electromagnetic signals that emanate from the nuclei of certain atoms.  The frequency of these signals are uniquely linked to the magnetic environment in which the atoms are situated and as such can provide very precise information about a wide variety of physical, chemical, biological, and material properties. For example, the NMR signal from hydrogen atoms in our bodies can be detected non-invasively and used to locate and diagnose injury or disease. This technique, known as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is one of the most important tools in modern medicine.In recent years it has been demonstrated that xenon gas, when specially prepared using a method called optical pumping, has a particularly strong NMR signal and is particularly well suited for MR imaging of the lung.  We are developing a research program to further explore the NMR and MRI applications of xenon gas.  In particular, we plan to use a very sensitive device, known as a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device or SQUID, to detect the xenon signal. This will allow us to develop ultra-sensitive measurement techniques and instrumentation, which could be used, for example, to study lung physiology and disease with unprecedented resolution.