Development of a Wideband EPR Spectrometer with Microstrip and Loop Antennas

We have developed a new non-conventional electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer, in which no resonant cavity was used. We previously demonstrated a wide frequency range operation of an EPR spectrometer using two loop antennas, one for a microwave transmission and the other for signal detection [1]. In contrast to Ref. [1], the utilization of a microstrip antenna as a transmitter enhanced a capability of wide-band operation. The replacement of conventional capacitors with varactor diodes makes resonance condition easily reproducible without any mechanical action during tuning and matching procedure since the capacitance of the diodes is controlled electronically. The operation of the new EPR spectrometer was tested by measuring a signal of 1,1-diphenil-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) sample in the frequency range of 0.8-2.5 GHz.