ABSTRACT
This topic is beyond what is normally covered in a 9 week summer course but is certainly an ‘‘essential topic.’’ The development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in health science continues and is an outgrowth of nuclear magnetic resonance, which has had its own modern developments. In fact, NMR research has grown into a sophisticated specialty field and we will only attempt to show the basics here but in such a way as to form a foundation for further study. In modern chemistry curricula, applications of NMR are usually given in organic chemistry but without much of the underlying mathematics. We will attempt to fill in some of the mathematics here as well as give specific examples from several Internet tutorials. Evaluation of the available technology related to pulsed NMR spectroscopy indicates it has become a very complex technology requiring continued study including advanced quantum mechanics, electrical engineering and a lot of advanced physics best acquired in graduate study. However, for pre-medical students and forensic majors we present a few examples which should be considered introductory material designed to whet the appetite for further study.
