Nuclear magnetic resonance of condensed matter

The physics of disordered systems is in many ways richer than the physics of perfectly ordered crystals. It is also potentially important for a number of applications in optics and electronics. Within the proposed research program we intend to use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as a microscopic tool for the investigation of the atomic and molecular structure and dynamics of disordered and partially ordered condensed matter. We specifically plan to investigate: a) the physics of relaxors which represent a state of matter intermediate between ferroelectrics and structural glasses b) the physics of quasicrystals and incommensurate crystals c) the physics of organic magnets based on fullerenes and high spin molecules forming magnetic nanoclusters d) the physics of disordered ferroelectrics as well as ferroelectric and antiferroelectric liquid crystals. A particular emphasis will be put on the relation between the atomic structure and the macroscopic properties of these systems and the changes produced by phase transitions. The aim of this part of the program is to understand the basic physical laws and properties of disordered systems and contribute to the physics of condensed matter. An important part of the program is the development of new spectroscopic techniques based on NMR, NQR, and nuclear double resonance. Specifically we plan to develop polarization enhanced nuclear quadrupole resonance for high-sensitivity – high-resolution detection of nitrogen in explosives, narcotics, and pharmaceutical products. This technique should be useful in the detection of antipersonal mines and hidden explosives or narcotics in luggage and mail check points. We also plan to develop nuclear exchange difference NMR as a tool for the study of slow dynamics of solids and a number of specific techniques (some of them based on quadrupole interactions) for the measurement of self-diffusion in solids. As an application we plan to develop NMR techniques for process control in pharmaceutical and food industries, techniques for the determination of the quality of the asphalt covering of highways, and NMR as a specific tool for process and quality control in cement industry.