An improved approach to calibrating high magnetic field gradients for pulsed field gradient experiments

Probes capable of generating short high intensity pulsed magnetic field gradients are commonly used in diffusion studies of systems with very short T2. Traditional methods of calibrating magnetic field gradients present unique challenges at ultrahigh field strengths and are often inapplicable. Currently the most accurate method of determining magnetic gradient strength is to use the known diffusion coefficient of a standard sample and determine gradient strength from the echo attenuation plot of a diffusion experiment, however, there are problems with finding suitable standards for high intensity gradients. Here, we show that molecules containing at least two receptive nuclei (i.e. one with high and one with low gyromagnetic ratios) are excellent systems for calibrating high intensity gradients.