title: Multi-exponential signal decay from diffusion in a single compartment.
abstract: Multi-exponential decays in diffusion experiments are typically fitted to sums of exponentially decaying components; often this is taken as evidence for spins in multiple distinct compartments. Here we examine the signal decay due to diffusion in a single cylinder, for short diffusion times (lightly restricted). The signals are well-modeled by a sum of two exponentials, despite the single compartment housing the spins. The results agree with a previous theoretical examination of the problem. The implication for biological systems is that multiple decay signal components may not correspond to multiple physical compartments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Washington University, Compton Hall, Campus Box 1105, One Brookings Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA. mmilne@physics.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Milne
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Conradi
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004058:Diffusion; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008956:Models, Chemical
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers