Magnetic Resonance Instrument & Technology

Development of Low-noise Preamplifier for Low-field NMR

  • LI Keyan ,
  • CHENG Xin ,
  • CHEN Junfei ,
  • CAO Li ,
  • HUANG Zhen ,
  • LIU Chaoyang
Expand
  • 1. School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430023, China
    2. State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Imaging, National Center for Magnetic Resonance in Wuhan (Innovation Academy for Precision Measurement Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences), Wuhan 430071, China
    3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

Received date: 2025-04-27

  Online published: 2025-05-19

Abstract

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology enables the acquisition of multi-scale molecular dynamics by characterizing the variation of relaxation times under different magnetic field conditions, thereby offering a critical detection methodology for petroleum logging research. To minimize magnetic field gradients induced by susceptibility differences between solid and liquid phases, low-field NMR systems are predominantly employed in petroleum logging applications. However, the inherent limitations of reduced sensitivity in low-field environments present significant challenges for applied studies, necessitating stringent noise performance specifications for receiving circuitry. As the primary stage of the signal reception chain, the preamplifier’s noise characteristics fundamentally determine the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of NMR measurements. To address the requirements of low-field NMR, this paper adopts a cascade topology combining a common-emitter and common-collector two-stage amplification circuit, and integrates negative feedback to optimize input broadband matching and noise figure. Consequently, a high-gain, low-noise broadband preamplifier has been developed. The implemented preamplifier demonstrates excellent performance parameters: NF≤0.73 dB, gain≥31 dB, gain flatness≤0.35 dB, and equivalent input voltage noise density≤0.45 nV/$\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$ across the 10~30 MHz frequency band. Integrated into an NMR spectrometer system, the amplifier demonstrated favorable 1H NMR signal SNR under 0.5 T, 0.35 T, and 0.25 T magnetic field conditions. These results indicate that the developed low-noise amplifier provides critical technical support for advancing low-field NMR applications.

Cite this article

LI Keyan , CHENG Xin , CHEN Junfei , CAO Li , HUANG Zhen , LIU Chaoyang . Development of Low-noise Preamplifier for Low-field NMR[J]. Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 2025 , 42(3) : 321 -333 . DOI: 10.11938/cjmr20253162

References

[1] BENAMSILI L, KORB J P, HAMON G, et al. Multi-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance characterizations of dynamics and saturations of brine/crude oil/mud filtrate mixtures confined in rocks: The role of asphaltene[J]. Energy Fuels, 2014, 28(3): 1629-1640.
[2] ZHANG R, WANG W, GAO Y, et al. Sensitivity analysis of T2-T1 2D NMR measurement parameters in shale oil reservoirs[J]. Chinese J Magn Reson, 2023, 40(2): 122-135.
  张融, 王伟, 高怡, 等. 页岩油储层T2-T1二维核磁共振测量参数敏感性分析[J]. 波谱学杂志, 2023, 40(2): 122-135.
[3] KORB J P, FREIMAN G, NICOT B, et al. Dynamical surface affinity of diphasic liquids as a probe of wettability of multimodal porous media[J]. Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys, 2009, 80(6): 061601.
[4] ZHAO W L, ZHAO Z H, ZHANG M H, et al. Study on moisture absorption and water uptake of PMMA wood-plastic composites based on TD-NMR[J]. Chinese J Magn Reson, 2023, 40(4): 448-461.
  赵万磊, 赵芝弘, 张明辉, 等. 基于TD-NMR的PMMA木塑复合材吸湿和吸水研究[J]. 波谱学杂志, 2023, 40(4): 448-461.
[5] KIMMICH R, ANOARDO E. Field-cycling NMR relaxometry[J]. Prog Nucl Mag Res Sp, 2004, 44(3-4): 257-320.
[6] KORB J P. Multiscale nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion of complex liquids in bulk and confinement[J]. Prog Nucl Mag Res Sp, 2018, 104: 12-55.
[7] MITCHELL J. Rapid measurements of heterogeneity in sandstones using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance[J]. J Magn Reson, 2014, 240: 52-60.
[8] CAO X M, ZU D L, ZHAO X N, et al. Design and research of low-noise preamplifier for MRI[J]. Scientia Sinica(Technologica), 2011, 41(8): 1101-1105.
  曹学明, 俎栋林, 赵旭娜, 等. MRI低噪声前置放大器设计研究[J]. 中国科学: 技术科学, 2011, 41(8): 1101-1105.
[9] FRIIS H T. Noise figures of radio receivers[J]. Proceedings of the IRE, 1944, 32(7): 419-422.
[10] 胡志峰. 应用于低频微弱信号检测的前置放大电路设计[D]. 长沙: 湖南大学, 2015.
[11] LI Y W, SHI T Y, LIU Y C, et al. Design of low-noise preamplifier for hydrophone based on JFET[J]. Electronics Technology, 2024, 53(8): 286-287.
  李跃文, 施彤云, 刘雨聪, 等. 基于JFET的水听器低噪声前置放大器设计[J]. 电子技术, 2024, 53(8): 286-287.
[12] CHEN X J, FAN X X, WU J. Design of a low-frequency low-noise measurement amplifier[J]. Modern Electronics Technique, 2016, 39(10): 116-119.
  陈晓娟, 樊欣欣, 吴洁. 低频低噪声测量放大器的设计[J]. 现代电子技术, 2016, 39(10): 116-119.
[13] HU S J, SHI Y, WEI X B, et al. Design and implementation of 0.03-4.5 GHz ultra-wideband low-noise amplifier[J]. Journal of Magnetic Materials and Devices, 2017, 48(4): 30-34.
  胡诗锦, 石玉, 尉旭波, 等. 0.03-4.5 GHz超宽带低噪声放大器设计与实现[J]. 磁性材料及器件, 2017, 48(4): 30-34.
[14] XIAO B Y, WANG D D, WANG S L, et al. Design of 0.1-3 GHz low-noise amplifier[J]. Chinese Journal of Electron Devices, 2024, 47(5): 1165-1168.
  肖宝玉, 王东东, 王三路, 等. 0.1-3 GHz低噪声放大器设计[J]. 电子器件, 2024, 47(5): 1165-1168.
[15] PAN B J, ZHANG C, LU Q L, et al. Design of cryogenic low-noise amplifier with SiGe process for 0.01-2 GHz applications[J]. Cryogenics & Superconductivity, 2024, 52(8): 17-22.
  潘北军, 张诚, 陆勤龙, 等. 基于锗硅工艺0.01-2 GHz低温低噪声放大器设计[J]. 低温与超导, 2024, 52(8): 17-22.
[16] 黄伟. 低场核磁共振系统的应用与研究[D]. 武汉: 华中师范大学, 2014.
[17] FENG W, SUN H J, WEN Z R. Design of LOW-NOISE PREAMPLIFIer for 0.5 T compact joint MRI instrument[J]. Foreign Electronic Measurement Technology, 2016, 35(7): 71-74.
  丰伟, 孙惠军, 温帧荣. 0.5 T小型关节MRI仪器中低噪声前置放大器的设计[J]. 国外电子测量技术, 2016, 35(7): 71-74.
[18] KANG K, XU Y J, ZHANG W W, et al. Research and design of low-noise preamplifier for low-field magnetic resonance systems[J]. Chinese J Magn Reson, 2017, 34(3): 383-395.
  亢科, 徐雅洁, 张闻文, 等. 低场磁共振系统的低噪声前置放大器研究设计[J]. 波谱学杂志, 2017, 34(3): 383-395.
[19] 崔粲. 高温超导核磁共振接收模拟通路研制[D]. 成都: 电子科技大学, 2021.
[20] 高晋占. 微弱信号检测[M]. 北京: 清华大学出版社, 2011.
[21] 李智群, 王志功. 射频集成电路与系统[M]. 北京: 科学出版社, 2008.
[22] 李玉兰. 宽带低噪声高线性前馈放大器[D]. 成都: 电子科技大学, 2011.
[23] 童剑钊. 微波晶体管低噪声放大器的设计与实现[D]. 西安: 西安电子科技大学, 2011.
[24] 塞德雷, 史密斯. 微电子电路: 第5版[M]. 周玲玲, 蒋乐天, 译. 北京: 电子工业出版社, 2006.
[25] 宋志军. 极低温介观器件散粒噪声测量系统搭建及测量[D]. 北京: 中国科学院大学(中国科学院物理研究所), 2019.
[26] 周新龙. 低场核磁共振弛豫信号的精确检测方法及其应用研究[D]. 南京: 东南大学, 2020.
Outlines

/