Magnetic resonance is a phenomenon that occurs when materials are placed in a strong magnetic field and exposed to radiowaves. It is often encountered in the medical context, where it is known as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Magnetic resonance relies on the precession of atomic nuclei in a magnetic field. The precession frequency depends on the nucleus (hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, etc) and on the strength of the magnetic field. In addition, the magnetic field is changed in subtle ways by the chemical environment of each nucleus. By careful spectral analysis, it is therefore possible to gain a wealth of information about the structure and the dynamics of matter at the molecular scale. This is widely exploited in Chemistry, Biochemistry, the Life Sciences, and in Materials Science.
Our group strives to develop novel techniques, in order to make NMR even more widely applicable. A particular focus lies on finding ways to extend the time scale over which NMR observations can be made. Another central theme is the integration of magnetic resonance methods into microfabricated lab-on-a-chip devices. We are also developing new methods to investigate complex functional materials such as catalysts, superconductors, fullerenes, and metal-organic frameworks.
MagRes@soton consists of four research groups:
| Group Leader | Main Research Interests |
|---|---|
| Prof Marcel Utz | NMR at small scale; microfluidic devices; foundations of quantum mechanics; modelling; complex materials |
| Prof Malcolm Levitt | Fundamentals of NMR; Long-lived Spin States; Hyperpolarisation; Endo-Fullerenes; Low-temperature NMR |
| Dr Marina Carravetta | Solid-state NMR methods; Materials and Catalysts; Superconductors |
| Dr Giuseppe Pileio | Diffusion and Transport; Long-Lived States; Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
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If you are interested in joining our team either as a postgraduate student or in the context of a placement or student project, please get in touch with one of the group leaders.