Off-resonance effects and selectivity profiles in pulsed nitrogen-14 nuclear quadrupole resonance

In order to alleviate base-line distortions in nitrogen-14 NQR spectra originating from pulse breakthrough, low power radio-frequency (rf) pulses were applied. It is recalled that the required power is four times lower than that for an equivalent NMR experiment. This is easily explained by the fact that, in NMR, half the amplitude of the rf field is active. Moreover, the selectivity profile (i.e. the peak amplitude as a function of the difference between the carrier frequency and the resonance frequency) exhibits a shape which is, in most cases, more favorable in NQR than in NMR. An appropriate theory has been developed for explaining these experimental observations. It is concluded that low power NQR is perfectly feasible and should even be recommended for most applications, provided that the line-width of the NQR signal is not too large. [Display omitted] ► Nuclear quadrupole resonance can accomodate low-amplitude radio-frequency fields. ► One of the advantages is to avoid spurious signals in case of very low sensitivity. ► Selectivity profiles (available frequency range) remain quite acceptable. ► Experimental and theoretical selectivity profiles agree perfectly (NQR and NMR).