Molecular dynamics parameter maps by 1H Hahn echo and mixed-echo phase-encoding MRI

[Display omitted] ► Residual dipolar couplings and averaged correlation time maps in soft matter by MRI. ► Parameter maps were obtained using mixed echo phase-encoding solid imaging (MIPSI). ► Parameter maps are compared to those obtained by the Hahn-echo MRI method. ► Density operator is applied to describe the dynamics encoding of the spin echoes. Residual dipolar couplings and averaged correlation time maps in soft matter were obtained by mixed echo phase-encoding solid imaging (MIPSI). Use of the mixed echo in soft matter NMR imaging experiments has two crucial advantages: the signal intensity is recovered with a weak incoherence losses, and second, the intervals during which the phase-encoding evolution due to the magnetic field gradients takes place can be chosen to be much larger than with all other spin echo experiments and hence, a higher special resolution can be achieved. The parameter maps are compared to those obtained by the Hahn-echo phase-frequency encoding method. For both MRI methods the density operator formalism is applied in the average Hamiltonian approximation to describe the encoding of the spin echoes by the molecular motions. The results of preliminary experiments are presented.