On magnetic mice and magic rings
Dr. Peter Blümler (Institut für Physik, Universität Mainz)

Magnetic resonance (NMR1 and EPR2) is one of the most versatile and powerful analytic techniques in (bio)chemistry and clinical diagnostics (MRI3). However, the typical technical realization consists of bulky superconducting magnets, filling rooms and weighing tons (costing millions).
Parallel to this development there was also an enormous improvement in the performance of permanent magnetic materials, which nowadays allow the construction of small, light magnets with comparable strength to superconducting magnets. Therefore several research teams set out to use such small magnets to mobilize MR-methodology in handheld or desktop devices.

This presentation will identify the problems, explain some successful solutions and show several potential applications of this technological development ranging from cultural heritage to MRI scanners for the third world (and some funny ideas which didn’t find a use yet).

1NMR = Nuclear Magnetic Resonance = magnetic resonance on nuclei possessing a nuclear spin 2EPR = Electron Paramagnetic Resonance = magnetic resonance on unpaired electrons 3MRI = Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Tomography) = spatially resolved NMR