Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR)

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) and Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectroscopy are synonymous terms for describing the resonant absorption of microwave radiation by a paramagnetic substance in a static magnetic field. Multifrequency EPR spectroscopy is a powerful tool for characterising paramagnetic molecules or centres within molecules which contain one or more unpaired electrons. Examples include free radicals, transition metal ions and multiatom clusters found in such diverse areas as physics, materials science (high Tc superconductors, organic molecular ferromagnets and catalysts, chemistry (inorganic, organic and polymeric compounds), biochemistry (metalloproteins and free radical chemistry), food science, radiation dosimetry and medicine (diseases associated with the mitochondrial electron transfer chain, free radical damage, and irradiation). An integral component in elucidating structural information from complex EPR spectra is the determination of spin Hamiltonian parameters.

See Multifrequency EPR and Pulsed EPR for details of CMR's developments in these areas.

Contact:

Professor Graeme Hanson