Abstract: In this paper, we present the hardware design for a general-purpose pulse generator used in NMR spectrometers. The architecture of the pulse generator was significantly simplified by using a field programmable gate array (FPGA) and a synchronous static ram. This design guaranteed the flexibility and easy-to-upgrade feature of the pulse generator. Compared to the conventional designs, the new design allowed finer pulse width and faster switching time. The performance of the new pulse generator was evaluated by NMR experiments.

Key words: NMR, pulse generator, time resolution, minimal pulse width