CHEM 277: Manipulating Spins: NMR Theory and Applications

Course Description

From the underlying quantum mechanics to isotopic labeling strategies and pulse sequence design, students will develop a strong foundation in understanding magnetic resonance and manipulating spins to detect and discover chemistry - the atomic-level structure and dynamics - in diverse biological systems, synthetic polymers, and other organic and inorganic materials and glasses. We will cover the following foundational material: quantum and classical descriptions of NMR; analysis of pulse sequences and spin coherences via density matrices and the product operator formalism; NMR spectrometer design; Fourier analysis of time-dependent observable magnetization; relaxation; solid-state NMR; NMR problem-solving strategies and examples. Student presentations of NMR applications/topics in the second half of the quarter. The course assumes completion of an undergraduate-level course in quantum mechanics.