A new approach to the study of structure in solids and liquids by pulsed NMR is described. Either multiple-pulse line-narrowing sequences or single pulses, together with an applied linear magnetic field gradient are used. The theoretical analysis highlights the analogy with plane-wave scattering in optics and is illustrated experimentally with examples of diffraction by ordered and disordered systems and image formation or microscopy. The factors affecting the resolution of the technique are discussed, and the problems of reconstructing micrographs from their projections considered.

• Received 29 July 1974

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.12.3618