R. Řezníček

Bentonite/Iron Oxide Composites: Preparation and Characterization by Hyperfine Methods

Bentonite/iron oxide system is prepared by isothermal calcination of powder composed of bentonite clay and precursor containing ferric acetate. This preparation technique enables one to get the composite material directly, that is, iron oxide particles embedded in a bentonite matrix. Calcination temperature is varied from 320°C to 700°C. The resulting series of samples is characterized by local methods based on hyperfine interactions: 57Fe nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and the Mössbauer spectroscopy. The results show that the phase composition changes significantly in dependence on calcination temperature. The amount of maghemite phase rapidly increases up to °C and decreases abruptly for higher than 460°C.

Magnetically induced structural reorientation in magnetite studied by nuclear magnetic resonance

Phenomenon related to low symmetry phase of magnetite Fe3O4 below the Verwey transition is the switching of magnetic easy axis by external magnetic field connected with a structural transition. Results of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies of axis switching are presented, preceded by careful characterization by magnetic measurements. We detect changes in the F57e NMR spectra that evidence the structural transition interrelated with the axis switching. We also observe the switching process in time and analyze the dynamics of the phenomenon. Phenomenological approach according to Kolmogorov–Johnson–Mehl–Avrami is employed to find a link between the experimental data from magnetization measurements and NMR, showing that the effect observed by these two methods has the same origin. Additionally, NMR identifies separately the unswitched and switched phase during the switching process.

Device for measurement of power and shape of radio frequency pulses in nuclear magnetic resonance

A design of an instrument to measure the power and shape of radio frequency (RF) pulses operating in a broad frequency range is described. The device is capable of measuring the pulse power up to 500 W of both CW and extremely short (∼1 μs) RF pulses of arbitrary period. The pulse envelope can be observed on a logarithmic scale on a corresponding instrument output using an inexpensive storage oscilloscope. The instrument consists of a coaxial measurement head, the RF processing circuits and an AD conversion and display unit. The whole device is based on widely available integrated circuits; thus, good reproducibility and adaptability of the design is ensured. Since the construction is intended to be used in particular (but not solely) in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we found it useful to provide a demonstration of two typical usage scenarios. Other application fields may comprise magnetic resonance imaging, radar and laser technology, power amplifier testing, etc.

Anisotropy of hyperfine interactions as a tool for interpretation of NMR spectra in magnetic materials

Approach for interpretation of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra in magnetic materials is presented, consisting in employing the anisotropy of hyperfine interaction. The anisotropic parts of hyperfine magnetic fields on (57)Fe nuclei are calculated ab initio for a model example of lithium ferrite and utilized to assign the experimental NMR spectral lines to iron sites in the crystal structure.