Application of β-NMR to spectroscopy and imaging

Yutaka Mizoi1, Mototsugu Mihara2, Yoko Kimura2, Takato Sugisaki2, Gen Takayama, Masaomi Tanaka, Daiki Nishimura, Yurika Otani, Miki Fukutome, Ryo Taguchi, Chen Sitan, Soshi Ishitani, Rina Miyahara, Kaoru Watanabe, Mitsunori Fukuda, Takuji Izumikawa, Norihide Noguchi, Kazuya Takatsu, Hiroyuki Takahashi, Asahi Yano, Hibiki Seki, Takashi Ohtsubo, Kensaku Matsuta, Atsushi Kitagawa, Shinji Sato
1 Osaka Electro-Communication University
2 Osaka University

Main Article Content

Abstract

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) using β-decay radioisotopes, known as “β-NMR,” is used for research in nuclear physics. Recently, nuclear magnetic moments of β-decay radioisotopes have been precisely measured by β-NMR. Therefore, β-decay radioisotopes can be used for NMR spectroscopy in material sciences. Nuclei, whose spin is zero, such as 12C and 16O, cannot be used in conventional NMR. However, nonzero-spin radioactive isotopes of carbon and oxygen can be used in β-NMR. This advantage is powerful for investigating organic materials that cannot be investigated using conventional NMR. A technique is being developed to extend β-NMR for imaging use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this study, the imaging function was realized by installing β-ray tracking detectors in a β-NMR device. Nuclear-spin-polarized radioisotopes were injected into a sample, and β-rays were emitted from their positions. Consequently, one could track back β-ray source positions on the sample. These detectors were installed into a dipole magnet to observe the magnetic resonances. A radio frequency coil was installed surrounding the sample. By combining information about the β-ray tracks and magnetic resonances, it was possible to obtain NMR spectra and images. This method is called “β-MRI.” The system was evaluated, and its performances were estimated.

Article Details

Author Biographies

Yutaka Mizoi, Osaka Electro-Communication University

18-8 Hatsucho Neyagawa, Osaka, 572-8530, Japan

Mototsugu Mihara, Osaka University

1-1 Machikaneyama Toyonaka, Osaka, 560-0043, Japan

Yoko Kimura, Osaka University

1-1 Machikaneyama Toyonaka, Osaka, 560-0043, Japan

Takato Sugisaki, Osaka University

1-1 Machikaneyama Toyonaka, Osaka, 560-0043, Japan

References

[1]. I. I. Rabi, “Space Quantization in a Gyrating Magnetic Field,” Phys. Rev. 51, 652–654 (1937). DOI:10.1103/PhysRev.51.652.
[2]. I. I. Rabi, J. R. Zacharias, S. Millman, P. Kusch, “A New Method of Measuring Nuclear Magnetic Moment,” Phys. Rev. 53, 318 (1938). DOI:10.1103/PhysRev.53.318.
[3]. T. Sugihara et al., “NMR Detection of Short-lived β-emitter 12N Implanted in Water,” Hyperfine Interact. 20, 238–5 (2017). DOI:10.1007/s10751-017-1401-2.
[4]. M. Mihara et al., “Beta-NMR of Short-lived Nucleus 17N in Liquids,” Hyperfine Interact. 240, 113–9 (2019). DOI:10.1007/s10751-019-1650-3.
[5]. P. C. Lauterbur, “Image Formation by Induced Local Interactions: Examples Employing Nuclear Magnetic Resonance,” Nature 242, 190–191 (1973). DOI:10.1038/242190a0.
[6]. P. Mansfield, NMR Imaging in Biomedicine (Elsevier, 1982).
[7]. Y. Mizoi et al., “Development of β-ray Tracker for β-NMR Spectroscopy and Imaging,” Proc. of the 36th Workshop on Radiation Detectors and Their Uses, KEK Proc. 2022-3, 54–63 (2023).
[8]. K. Asahi et al., “New Aspect of Intermediate Energy Heavy Ion Reactions. Large Spin Polarization of Fragments,” Phys. Lett. B 251, 488–492 (1990). DOI:10.1016/0370-2693(90)90784-4.
[9]. S. Kouda et al., “New Secondary Beam Course for Medical Use in HIMAC,” 1997 Particle Accelerator Conference, PAC’97 Proc., 3822–3824 (1997).
[10]. M. Kanazawa et al., “Present Status of Secondary Beam Courses in HIHAC,” Nucl. Phys. A 746, 393c–396c (2004). DOI:10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2004.09.083.
[11]. Kuraray Co. Ltd., https://kuraray.com/.
[12]. Hamamatsu Photonics K. and K., https://hamamatsu.com/.
[13]. I. Nakamura et al., “A 64ch readout module for PPD/MPPC/SiPM using EASIROC ASIC,” Nucl. Instrum. Methods A 787, 376–379 (2015). DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2015.01.098.
[14]. H. Baba et al., “MPV-Parallel Readout Architecture for the VME Data Acquisition System,” IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. 68, 1841–1848 (2021). DOI:10.1109/TNS.2021.3083832.
[15]. CAEN S.p.A., https://caen.it/.
[16]. T. Izumikawa, “[Hyperfine Interactions of Short-lived 12B in Si Crystal],” doctoral dissertation, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Japan, 1999.
[17]. Y. Kimura, “[Development of Imaging Method using β-ray NMR],” master’s thesis, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Japan, 2023 [unpublished].
[18]. S. Agostinelli at al., “Geant4 – a Simulation Toolkit,” Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A 506, 250–303 (2003). DOI:10.1016/S0168-9002(03)01368-8.