Kan Tagami Completes His Ph.D. for "Instrumentation and Method Development for Efficient DNP in Electron Spin-Spin Coupled Systems"

Kan joined the Han Lab in 2016 after graduating from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Since then, his focus has been on the spin physics and instrumentation of dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) in solid state NMR. Kan’s goal has been to improve the efficiency of solid-state DNP under MAS through development of both EPR and NMR instruments, as well as use a wide variety existing magnetic resonance techniques to characterize and exploit the underlying mechanisms of DNP.

Kan’s dissertation is on the topic " Instrumentation and Method Development for Efficient DNP in Electron Spin-Spin Coupled Systems ". Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is a state-of-the-art technique often used in solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in order to enhance NMR signal sensitivity which results from the inherently low polarization of nuclei in a magnetic field in temperatures above the milli-Kelvin range. However, the efficiency of DNP techniques drops significantly at high magnetic fields >5T and fast magic angle spinning (MAS)-- conditions favorable for high resolution NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the scope of state-of-the-art DNP methodology has been limited to a narrow set of paramagnetic electrons, pulse sequences, and instrumentation, which has limited the widespread applicability of DNP.

During the defense, Kan demonstrated a method of how to effectively enhance the efficiency of DNP at high magnetic field and fast MAS via electron spin analysis and manipulation of the coupled electron spin network. Additionally, Kan demonstrated the development of a new versatile cryogen free dual EPR/DNP probe which provides optimal microwave (EPR) and radio frequency (NMR) performance simultaneously for a broad range of nuclei and electron centers and has applied to novel DNP systems to expand the scope of DNP to presently "exotic" paramagnetic systems.

Kan will now be taking on a job at JEOL USA, Inc. in Peabody, MA. Kan will be greatly missed by all members of the Han Lab.

Congratulations again, Dr. Kan Tagami!