Quantification in Hyperpolarized NMR

Quantitative aspects of hyperpolarized NMR are analyzed in the present work, and it is shown theoretically and experimentally that measured "apparent" signal enhancements could deviate significantly from real enhancements of polarization. Expressions are given as a function of spin count to deduce real enhancements from measured "apparent" enhancements, and vice versa. While the findings are of particular relevance to high-field work employing high-Q probes, and to analytical applications of hyperpolarized NMR whose objective is the measurement of spin count, our experiments demonstrate their significance even for low- and moderate-field work with probes of moderate Q-factor.