270075 VO Introduction to Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (2019W)

This course aims at introducing the Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy methodology and to highlight selected applications. EPR is a method to detect the responses of electron spins in external magnetic fields to microwave irradiation. EPR features a wide spectrum of applications ranging from basic spin physics over bioinorganic chemistry to structural biology. The course will begin with an overview over the fundamental quantum mechanics behind the magnetic resonance of electron spins introducing the resonance phenomenon in general together with related topics such as electronic relaxation and the instrumentational setup of an EPR spectrometer. It will then proceed to a presentation of various EPR experiments such as nanoscale distance measurements, which will be introduced on the one hand with an eye on understanding the underlying quantum mechanics and on the other hand with examples to selected scientific problems, such as the determination of the geometry of metal complexes or of protein structures. Finally, an overview over common EPR techniques such as spin probing and spin labelling will be given.