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In this paper we elucidate, theoretically and experimentally, molecular motifs which permit Long- Lived Polarization Protected by Symmetry (LOLIPOPS). The basic assembly principle starts from a pair of chemically equivalent nuclei supporting a long-lived singlet state and is completed by coupling to additional pairs of spins. LOLIPOPS can be created in various sizes; here we review fourspin systems, introduce a group theory analysis of six-spin systems, and explore eight-spin systems by simulation. The focus is on AA'XnX'n spin systems, where typically the A spins are 15N or 13C and X spins are protons. We describe the symmetry of the accessed states, we detail the pulse sequences used to access these states, we quantify the fraction of polarization that can be stored as LOLIPOPS, we elucidate how to access the protected states from A or from X polarization and we examine the behavior of these spin systems upon introduction of a small chemical shift difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum computing -- the manipulation of a quantum mechanical system to do information processing -- has attracted considerable recent attention, largely triggered by Shor's proposed algorithm for finding prime factors [...]

A recent quantum computing paper (G. S. Uhrig, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 100504 (2007)) analytically derived optimal pulse spacings for a multiple spin echo sequence designed to remove decoherence in a two-level system coupled to a bath. The spacings in what has been called a “Uhrig dynamic decoupling (UDD) sequence” differ dramatically from the conventional, equal pulse spacing of a Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill (CPMG) multiple spin echo sequence. The UDD sequence was derived for a model that is unrelated to magnetic resonance, but was recently shown theoretically to be more general. Here we show that the UDD sequence has theoretical advantages for magnetic resonance imaging of structured materials such as tissue, where diffusion in compartmentalized and microstructured environments leads to fluctuating fields on a range of different time scales. We also show experimentally, both in excised tissue and in a live mouse tumor model, that optimal UDD sequences produce different T2-weighted contrast than do CPMG sequences with the same number of pulses and total delay, with substantial enhancements in most regions. This permits improved characterization of low-frequency spectral density functions in a wide range of applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fundamental optical and structural properties of melanins are not well understood due to their poor solubility characteristics and the chemical disorder present during biomolecular synthesis. We apply nonlinear transient absorption spectroscopy to quantify molar absorptivities for eumelanin and pheomelanin and thereby get an estimate for their average pigment sizes. We determine that pheomelanin exhibits a larger molar absorptivity at near IR wavelengths (750 nm), which may be extended to shorter wavelengths. Using the molar absorptivities, we estimate that melanin pigments contain ∼46 and 28 monomer units for eumelanin and pheomelanin, respectively. This is considerably larger than the oligomeric species that have been recently proposed to account for the absorption spectrum of eumelanin and illustrates that larger pigments comprise a significant fraction of the pigment distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the authors compare 400 nm one-photon and 800 nm two-photon two-dimensional Fourier transform electronic spectra of the organic laser dye Coumarin 102 in methanol using collinear optical pulse sequences and phase cycling. Results from the two different experiments show differences in the photon echo peak positions and shapes, reflecting differences in the two-photon and one-photon selection rules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turbulent spin dynamics arising from the joint action of radiation damping and the distant dipolar field are shown to generate irreproducible measurements in popular high-field, gradient-based magnetic resonance (MR) experiments, undermining the prevailing assumption of essentially predictable observables in MR. Sizeable fluctuations in echo amplitudes are reported and numerically simulated for pulsed gradient spin echo and stimulated echo diffusion measurements. The underlying microscopic dynamical instability is characterized by analysis of the finite-time Lyapunov exponents. Perturbations to the modulated magnetization are shown to render magic-angle gradients ineffective in suppressing signal fluctuations. Alternative approaches are suggested for canceling out the feedback interactions leading to spin turbulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of pulse propagation on the two-dimensional photon echo (2DPE) spectrum of multilevel systems is investigated using a perturbative method. At high optical densities (OD) peak profiles are broadened asymmetrically, in most cases more strongly along the ω[sub 2] direction than along the ω[sub 1] direction. The amount of broadening is determined both by the OD and by the dynamics of the system. In addition, especially if the different transitions in the system are of unequal strength, the relative intensity of the peaks changes with OD. But even if the transition strengths are the same, the behavior of the cross peaks is different from the diagonal peaks. Since peak shape and relative intensity are important parameters in the interpretation of 2DPE spectra, such OD effects should be taken into account. © 2003 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artifacts arising from aperiodic turbulent spin dynamics in gradient-based nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) applications are comprehensively surveyed and numerically simulated by a nonlinear Bloch equation. The unexpected dynamics, triggered by the joint action of radiation damping and the distant dipolar field, markedly deteriorate the performance of certain pulse sequences incorporating weak pulsed-field gradients and long evolution times. The effects are demonstrated in three general classes of gradient NMR applications: solvent signal suppression, diffusion measurements, and coherence pathway selection. Gradient-modulated solvent transverse magnetization can be partially rephased in a series of self-refocusing gradient echoes that blank out solute resonances in the CHESS (chemical-shift-selective spectroscopy) and WATERGATE (gradient-tailored water suppression) solvent suppression schemes. In addition, the discovered dynamics contribute to erratic echo attenuation in pulsed gradient spin echo (PGSE) and PGSE stimulated echo diffusion measurements and produce coherence leakage in gradient-selected DQFCOSY and HMQC experiments. Specific remedies for minimizing unwanted effects are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]