Direct observation of nuclear spin diffusion in real space

Images directly visualizing the spatial spin-diffusion process are reported. The measurements were performed using a magnetic resonance force microscope. The field gradient associated with the forcedetection experiment is large enough to affect the spin dynamics and a modified kinetics of the spindiffusion process is observed. The effects of the gradient were compensated for by a pulse scheme and a pure Zeeman diffusion rate constant of D = (6.2 ± 0.7) × 10-12 cm2/s in CaF2 was observed.