Customer Reviews

Spin Dynamics: Basics of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book could simply be stated as an excellent attempt to introduce the foundations of NMR. It is a very good primer on all theoretical aspects that are essential to an understanding of the subject.
It offers a methodical, step-by-step approach. Useful tools and consistent terminology are the most attracting feature of this volume. It is well-illustrated; and controversial issues are highlighted in the "Notes" sections at the end of each chapter. It has illustrative problems at the end of each chapter, with solutions provided at the end.
Interestingly, the appendix covers many important aspects that are needed at a more advanced stage. Useful tools for the understanding of NMR are developed at appropriate stages. These include: the box notation for coherences, populations, density matrices and transitions; the origin of NMR spectra from individual coherence terms in the density matrix; origin of 2-D NMR signals as well as many important concepts in Fourier Transform NMR are described. The origins of relaxation enjoy a very readable and simplistic approach in the last chapter.
Whenever simplistic approximations are used, the author never claims of completeness or rigour. Distinction is made between terms that are physically correct and terms that are sometimes misleading, but enjoy widespread use in the NMR spectroscopy convention. The essential tools in quantum mechanics are outlined, product operator descriptions are used frequently and repetitively, that enhances understanding and provides more practice. Pictorial representations have been given where possible, a view-point beginners like myself find very useful.
One drawback, is a careful side-lining of the very important technique of using pulse-field gradients, although their cousin technique, named pulse-cycles is quite elaborately explained. I hope, the next issue of the book would also cover up this important technique.

This is an excellent text book written by a chemist. Author handles some of hardware stuff as well as physical chemistry of NMR based on quantum mechanics. This text provides us with clear pictures of NMR phenomena. Some detailed explanations about basic NMR pulse sequences are excellent for everybody who studies this field.

For those studying biomolecules with NMR, the unofficial bible is of course the maroon colored Cavanagh book. Though this is an excellent book, it isn't the best suited book for beginners. This is where Levitt's book comes in: this is by far the kindest introduction to NMR that I have seen, with heavy emphasis on understanding the concepts first and the formalism later. The book is full of useful diagrams, detailed analogies, and exercises for the reader where other books only show equations. So borrows someone's Cavanagh first, and if you get stuck after 20 pages then order yourself a copy of Levitt and you won't be disappointed. If you already have studied NMR and are looking at how to apply it to proteins, then Cavanagh should suit you fine.

It is a distinguished book for beginer to under stand NMR from theory to experiment step by step.

Coming from a purely Physics background, this book is great at explaining in simple English without sounding like it is talking to a complete idiot. I don't appreciate books that are condescending, and this one is not. Very good, well written, and highly recommended!

The book really does a very good job explaining such a difficult subject to
just about anyone with high school math background. I wish more advanced physics
topics were handled this way.

I have been in NMR business for more than 5 years. During that time, I tried to understand the concepts from many different books. All of my confusion with different explanations in classical and quantum physics literally went away with this book. If you want to buy NMR book for your reference this is the one. Many thanks to Malcolm Levitt, the author. This book has become the standard textbook for NMR courses taught in leading universities. It would be even better, if book were printed in color.

The boook is written in an easy to understand way avoiding any classical physics explanation. To learn the quantum mechanical background of NMR and so MRI this is a great book for physicists.

if you love quantum mechanics this book is for you! great theory behind NMR!

It's excellent. Starts from the basic to more complex matters in a very friendly way.