Signal analysis and signal treatment are integral parts of all types of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. In the last ten years, much has been achieved in the development of dimensional spectra. At the same time new NMR techniques such as NMR Imaging and multidimensional spectroscopy have appeared, requiring entirely new methods of signal analysis. Up until now, most NMR texts and reference books limited their presentation of signal processing to a short introduction to the principles of the Fourier Transform, signal convolution, apodisation and noise reduction. To understand the mathematics of the newer signal processing techniques, it was necessary to go back to the primary references in NMR, chemometrics and mathematics journals. The objective of this book is to fill this void by presenting, in a single volume, both the theory and applications of most of these new techniques to Time-Domain, Frequency-Domain and Space-Domain NMR signals. Details are provided on many of the algorithms used and a companion CD-ROM is also included which contains some of the computer programs, either as source code or in executable form. Although it is aimed primarily at NMR users in the medical, industrial and academic fields, it should also interest chemometricians and programmers working with other techniques.

This book is concerned with the processing of signals that have been sam pled and digitized. The fundamental theory behind Digital Signal Process ing has been in existence for decades and has extensive applications to the fields of speech and data communications, biomedical engineering, acous tics, sonar, radar, seismology, oil exploration, instrumentation and audio signal processing to name but a few [87]. The term "Digital Signal Processing", in its broadest sense, could apply to any operation carried out on a finite set of measurements for whatever purpose. A book on signal processing would usually contain detailed de scriptions of the standard mathematical machinery often used to describe signals. It would also motivate an approach to real world problems based on concepts and results developed in linear systems theory, that make use of some rather interesting properties of the time and frequency domain representations of signals. While this book assumes some familiarity with traditional methods the emphasis is altogether quite different. The aim is to describe general methods for carrying out optimal signal processing.

Providing a definitive reference source on novel methods in NMR acquisition and processing, this book will highlight similarities and differences between emerging approaches and focus on identifying which methods are best suited for different applications. The highly qualified editors have conducted extensive research into the fundamentals of fast methods of data acquisition in NMR, including applications of non-Fourier methods of spectrum analysis. With contributions from additional distinguished experts in allied fields, clear explanations are provided on methods that speed up NMR experiments using different ways to manipulate the nuclei in the sample, modern methods for estimating the spectrum from the time domain response recorded during an NMR experiment, and finally how the data is sampled. Starting with a historical overview of Fourier Transformation and its role in modern NMR spectroscopy, this volume will clarify and demystify this important emerging field for spectroscopists and analytical chemists in industry and academia.