250 MHz passive Q‐modulator for reflection resonators

A simple scheme for dynamically switching the quality factor, Q, of a loop‐gap resonator (LGR); working at 250 MHz is presented. The addition of this Q‐modulator resulted in 30% improvement in electron paramagnetic resonance imager signal‐to‐noise ratio. During pulse excitation, this scheme lowered the Q, while higher Q was obtained during signal detection. These conditions favored the image acquisition. The Q‐modulator is passive; the transition between different states was actuated by the radio frequency power itself.