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Help and Reference

This page brings together commonly used links, recommended learning materials, and answers to frequently asked questions to support NMR users at Emory.

Whether you are new to NMR or an experienced user, these resources are intended to help you work efficiently and safely.

NMR Tutorials and Reading

The resources below provide helpful background, tutorials, and reference material for learning or reviewing NMR theory and practice:

  • The Basics of NMR
    A clearly written introductory textbook by Dr. Joseph P. Hornak (RIT), suitable for beginners and advanced users.

  • NMR Experiment Guide
    A freely available guide describing common NMR experiments and their applications.

  • NMR Spectroscopy: Principles and Applications
    A series of lecture materials by Henry Rzepa (Imperial College London) covering foundational and applied concepts in NMR spectroscopy.

These materials are recommended for:

  • New users preparing for training or checkout
  • Users refreshing their knowledge of NMR concepts
  • Understanding experiment setup and interpretation

Troubleshooting and FAQs

  • I broke an NMR tube inside the spectrometer. What should I do?

    • Stop immediately.
    • Place a note on the instrument indicating it is out of order.
    • Contact the NMR Center Director right away.
    • Do not attempt to remove the tube yourself, as this may damage the probe.
    • In some cases, part or all of the sample may still be recoverable.

  • I typed ga or h1, but nothing happened. The acquisition window shows “inactive.” This indicates a loss of communication between the computer and the console.

    To fix this:

    1. Click the console icon at the top right of the screen to open a shell.
    2. Type su acqproc and press Enter.
    3. Once communication is restored, type h1 to confirm the system is functioning normally.

  • I cannot find a lock signal.

    • Confirm that your sample is in a deuterated solvent.
    • Check the correct Z0 value for that solvent.
    • Enter the Z0 value in the Lock window.
    • If you still cannot find the lock signal, ask the NMR Center staff for assistance.

  • My sample does not spin after clicking “spin on.”

    • Eject the sample.
    • Clean the spinner and try again.
    • If the sample still does not spin, you may continue acquiring data, but you must notify the NMR Center Director.

  • How do I transfer data from a Sun workstation to my PC?

    • Use the NMR Center PC to FTP the data from the Sun workstation.
    • Step‑by‑step instructions are posted near the PC in Room 210.

Software, Instrument, and Vendor Links

Bruker

NMR instrumentation, software, and documentation

Jeol

NMR systems and technical resources

Sigma

Chemicals, solvents, and reference standards

Mestrelab

Mnova NMR data processing software