Chemistry

Biographical Info

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a versatile form of spectroscopy that utilizes radio wave pulses to interrogate the atomic-scale structure and dynamics of molecules and materials. In addition to its importance in fundamental science, the technique is also widely applied in industry and is the basis for magnetic resonance imaging in medicine. While NMR spectra are rich in information content, the technique suffers from notoriously low sensitivity due to the weak interaction of nuclear magnetic moments with the applied magnetic fields. Russ Bowers is a pioneer of hyperpolarization methods for sensitivity-enhanced NMR. Recent research in the Bowers lab has focused on the use of heterogeneous catalysis to convert the pure nuclear spin order inherent to parahydrogen into NMR observable hyperpolarization, which can result in NMR signal enhancements of more than four orders of magnitude. One of the most exciting recent breakthroughs in the Bowers lab is the SWAMP effect (Surface Waters are Magnetized from Parahydrogen), where the protons of liquid water and alcohols are hyperpolarized by simply bubbling parahydrogen through a suspension of Pt-Sn intermetallic nanoparticles in the earth’s field. The SWAMP effect illustrates how the ingenious manipulation of the principles of quantum mechanics and thermodynamics can lead to transformative discoveries. Such is the guiding theme of the research program. The Bowers lab and offices are located within the UF Physics Building. He is affiliated with the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, the UF Center for Condensed Matter Sciences, and the Center for Chemical Physics.