A novel probe head for high-field, high-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance

A probe head especially useful for electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometers working at high field-high frequency is presented. The probe head is based on the whispering gallery mode dielectric resonators that proved very effective in the ultrahigh frequency range. The excitation network uses a properly shaped dielectric waveguide sharing its external field pattern with the field of the resonators. Very simple resonators made with polyethylene in both single and doubly stacked disk configurations are used. The experimental characterization by a submillimeter network analyzer shows for the resonances studied in a wide range of frequencies up to approximate to 400 GHz high loaded merit factor Q(L) values and good coupling factors. Resonators also maintain their general characteristics when large quantities of low loss samples for EPR measurements are properly inserted. Preliminary EPR spectra of diphenylpicrylhyldrazyl at 7 and 10 T obtained with the novel apparatus are finally presented. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0034-6748(99)02703-3].