Time-resolved observation of spin waves in a linear chain of nuclear spins

The experimental observation of spin waves by NMR spectroscopy is reported for a linear chain consisting of five scalar coupled 13C spins of lysine. Selective excitation of a first spin and evolution under an effective planar zero-quantum Hamiltonian with terms 2πJi,i+1(IixIi+1,x+IiyIi+1,y) leads to the propagation of a damped spin-wave packet bouncing back and forth at the chain ends. The effective planar Hamiltonian is generated by the application of a multiple pulse sequence.