Spin-lattice NMR relaxation by anomalous translational diffusion

A model-free theoretical framework for a phenomenological description of spin-lattice relaxation by anomalous translational diffusion in inhomogeneous systems based on the fractional diffusion equation is developed. The dependence of the spin-lattice relaxation time on the size of the pores in porous glass Vycor is experimentally obtained and found to agree well with our theoretical predictions. We obtain nonmonotonic behavior of the translational spin-lattice relaxation rate constant (it passes through a maximum) with the variation of the parameter referring to the extent of inhomogeneity of the system. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.