The flip-angle effect: a method for detection of sodium-23 quadrupole splitting in tissue

A method is presented for the detection of quadrupole splitting in tissue, where the spectral line splittings are typically unobservable. The method used is a study of the rate of rotation of the flip angle as a function of radiofrequency (rf) amplitude. Our results with samples of skeletal muscle and cat brain indicate the absence of quadrupole splitting.