Analytic solutions of the Bloch equation involving asymmetric amplitude and frequency modulations

Abstract
An analytic solution of the Bloch equation is presented using a class of asymmetric complex functions as a driving function. These may involve both amplitude and frequency modulation functions. Analytic solutions that have been previously derived include the amplitude modulated (‘‘real’’) hyperbolic secant pulse and its asymmetric generalization in addition to the complex sech/tanh pulse. The solution presented in this paper contains all of these as particular cases. The solution in its complex form is closely associated with an adiabatic fast passage experiment and renders robust magnetization inversion provided the rf amplitude exceeds a certain threshold. © 1996 The American Physical Society.