Research Overview

We investigate nuclear spin hyperpolarization: quantum technologies at the interface of chemistry and physics that prepare molecules in spin-polarized states. These hyperpolarized molecules give us dramatically enhanced signals for NMR and MRI, which we apply in zero-field NMR and metabolic in vivo imaging.

Our work focuses on developing new ways to hyperpolarize molecules using parahydrogen-induced polarization, and on extending the lifetime of spin-polarized states by mitigating relaxation. A central goal is to bring these techniques to living systems, so that biological activity can be observed in real time with molecular and atomic resolution.

Research Topics

Parahydrogen-induced polarization

Using reactions with parahydrogen to enhance the NMR signlls of metabolites and other small organic molecules.

Spin dynamics simulations

Density matrix calculations of coherent and incoherent spin dynamics in NMR experiments.

Real-time low-field NMR

Real-time view into magnetization dynamics under pulses at low magnetic field.

Solid-state spin diffusion

Using permanent dipolar couplings in the solid state to enhance hyperpolarization diffusion to target molecules.

Zero- and ultralow-field NMR

Studying reactions and polarization transfer processes at ultra-low magnetic fields (10 µT and below).

A Snapshot of Our Lab

The Eills research group is based at the Institute of Structural Biochemistry in the Helmholtz Center “Forschungszentrum Jülich”, Germany. The Forschungszentrum is just outside the town of Jülich, and situated between Cologne, Aachen and Düsseldorf. We work in two labs on campus: the biochemistry research labs, and the NMR hall with high-field NMR instruments up to 1.2 GHz. Our research is on the topic of hyperpolarization for NMR. In particular we are investigating parahydrogen-induced polarization and low-field NMR methods.