Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026

NMR 15N Relaxation Experiments for the Investigation of Picosecond to Nanoseconds Structural Dynamics of Proteins
Published on: November 1, 2024
Optimal control of coupled spin dynamics: design of NMR pulse sequences by gradient ascent algorithms
Navin Khaneja1, Timo Reiss, Cindie Kehlet
1Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. navin@hrl.harvard.edu
Abstract:
In this paper, we introduce optimal control algorithm for the design of pulse sequences in NMR spectroscopy. This methodology is used for designing pulse sequences that maximize the coherence transfer between coupled spins in a given specified time, minimize the relaxation effects in a given coherence transfer step or minimize the time required to produce a given unitary propagator, as desired. The application of these pulse engineering methods to design pulse sequences that are robust to experimentally important parameter variations, such as chemical shift dispersion or radiofrequency (rf) variations due to imperfections such as rf inhomogeneity is also explained.
Related Concept Videos
NMR Spectrometers: Radiofrequency Pulses and Pulse Sequences
¹H NMR: Interpreting Distorted and Overlapping Signals
As Δν decreases and the signals move closer, the doublets appear increasingly distorted. The intensities of the inner lines increase at the cost of those of the outer lines as the signals are slanted or...
Double Resonance Techniques: Overview
Spin decoupling is usually achieved by...
NMR Spectroscopy: Spin–Spin Coupling
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Relaxation Processes
NMR Spectrometers: Resolution and Error Correction

