Free Magnetic Induction in Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance

The free precession of an ensemble of nuclear quadrupole moments in an axial electric field gradient is studied by the pulsed nuclear induction method. A quantum-mechanical analysis describes the free precession and spin echo signals which result from the application of single and double pulses of radio-frequency field at the condition of zero-field quadrupole resonance. Beat modulation effects exhibited by free precession signals in a small constant external magnetic field are predicted by analysis. An alternative semiclassical description of quadrupole precession is given, which is analogous to the macroscopic nuclear induction equations of Bloch. Theory is verified by observation of free precession signals of chlorine in NaCl${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$.