Bloch-Redfield-Wangsness theory engine implementation using symbolic processing software

Abstract

We describe a general method for the automated symbolic processing of Bloch-Redfield-Wangsness relaxation theory equations for liquid-phase spin dynamics in the algebraically challenging case of rotationally modulated interactions. The processing typically takes no more than a few seconds (on a contemporary single-processor workstation) and yields relaxation rate expressions that are completely general with respect to the spectral density functions, relative orientations, and magnitudes of the interaction tensors, with all cross-correlations accounted for. The algorithm easily deals with fully rhombic interaction tensors, and is able, with little if any modification, to treat a large variety of the relaxation mechanisms encountered in NMR, EPR, and spin dynamics in general.