Application of tensor operator formalism in pulsed nuclear quadrupole resonance spectroscopy

Abstract

In this paper we employ the tensor operator formalism to obtian the NQR responses to the application of one, two and three radiofrequency (RF) pulses in the case of an ensemble of non-interacting nuclear spins with I = 3/2 case in a single crystal. The cases of axial and non-axial field gradients are considered separately. The evolution of various tensor operators in the above cases as well as under the influence of the RF Hamiltonian, including the phase of the RF carrier, is also described. These results can be used to analyse, in the absence of relaxation effects, pulse responses of spin I = 3/2 nuclei in a variety of situations. The advantages of this formalism as applied to pure NQR case are discussed.