Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Experimental Methods for Spin- and Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy Combined with Polarization-Variable Laser
Published on: June 28, 2018
Multiple quadrupolar spin echoes in the La-filled skutterudite LaOs4As12
1Institute for Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 1410, 50-950 Wrocław, Poland. B.Nowak@int.pan.wroc.pl
Researchers observed unique quadrupole echoes in lanthanum (La) Os4As12 using pulse nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies. This finding provides a new method for assessing the structural symmetry and quality of LaOs4As12 samples.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Background:
- Lanthanum Osmium Arsenide (LaOs4As12) is a material with potential applications in advanced technologies.
- Understanding the structural symmetry of crystalline materials is crucial for predicting and controlling their properties.
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) is a powerful technique for probing local atomic environments and symmetries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural symmetry of LaOs4As12 using 139La pulse NMR.
- To characterize the presence and behavior of quadrupolar echoes in LaOs4As12.
- To establish a new method for evaluating the quality and symmetry of LaOs4As12 samples.
Main Methods:
- Experimental measurements using 139La pulse NMR spectroscopy.
- Utilizing powder samples derived from high-quality single crystals of LaOs4As12.
- Observation and analysis of quadrupole echo patterns for 139La nuclei (spin I=7/2).
Main Results:
- Successfully obtained quadrupole echo patterns for 139La nuclei for the first time.
- Observed all predicted quadrupolar echoes for spin I=7/2 at specific time intervals.
- The presence of these echoes indicates a deviation from perfect cubic symmetry in the LaOs4As12 structure.
Conclusions:
- The observation of quadrupolar echoes serves as a direct indicator of deviations from perfect cubic symmetry in LaOs4As12.
- This NMR technique offers a simple and rapid method for assessing the quality and structural integrity of LaOs4As12 samples.
- The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the physical properties and potential applications of LaOs4As12.
Related Concept Videos
NMR Spectroscopy: Spin–Spin Coupling
Atomic Nuclei: Magnetic Resonance
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Spectroscopy: Organic Radicals
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Spin State Overview
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...
Interpreting ¹H NMR Signal Splitting: The (n + 1) Rule

