Effects of radiation damping on Z-spectra

Radiation damping induced by the strong water magnetization in Z-spectroscopy experiments can be sufficient to perturb significantly the resultant Z-spectrum. With a probe tuned to exact electrical resonance the effects are relatively straightforward, narrowing the central feature of the Z-spectrum. Where, as is commonly the case, the probe is tuned sufficiently well to give optimum signal-to-noise ratio and radiofrequency field strength but is not at exact resonance, radiation damping introduces an unexpected asymmetry into the Z-spectrum. This has the potential to complicate the use of Z-spectrum asymmetry to study chemical exchange, for example in the estimation of pH in vivo.