Software Defined Radio (SDR) and Direct Digital Synthesizer (DDS) for NMR/MRI instruments at low-field

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Engineering
• Chemistry

Background:

• Traditional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) systems often involve complex and costly radiofrequency (RF) electronics.
• Advancements in digital signal processing and telecommunication technologies offer opportunities for system simplification and cost reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a proof-of-concept for a fully digital RF electronics system for low-field (0.1 T) NMR.
• To explore the integration of telecommunication technologies into NMR system design.
• To facilitate the creation of accessible and replicable dedicated NMR desktops for diverse applications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a Direct Digital Synthesizer (DDS) for precise pulse generation.
• Employed Software Defined Radio (SDR) for digital signal reception, including analog-to-digital conversion and digital down conversion.
• Integrated a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) for system control, pulse programming, and gradient signal generation.

Main Results:

• Successfully developed and detailed the hardware and software aspects of the digital NMR electronics system.
• Demonstrated the feasibility of leveraging existing telecommunication technologies for NMR.
• Presented initial Free Induction Decay (FID) signals, validating the system's performance.

Conclusions:

• The developed fully digital RF electronics offer a viable and cost-effective approach for low-field NMR systems.
• This technology enables the design of user-friendly and replicable NMR desktops for broader research accessibility.
• Future work will focus on further development and application in low-field NMR/MRI.