In a method for determining an
absolute number of
electron spins in an extended sample (3) with the assistance of an apparatus for measuring magnetic
resonance, the extended sample (3) is disposed within a measurement volume (2) of a radiofrequency RF
resonator (1) of the apparatus during an
electron spin
resonance measurement (ESR). The method has the following steps: determining a spatial sensitivity profile f of the RF
resonator (1) over the measurement volume (2); determining a
resonator sensitivity constant c by means of a comparison to the measurement volume (2) of small calibration sample having a known number of
electron spins at a particular position within the measurement volume (2); measuring a magnetic
resonance signal RS of the extended sample (3) in the apparatus with a known
spatial distribution of extended sample (3) within the measurement volume (2); weighting the magnetic
resonance signal RS with the integral of the spatial sensitivity profile f of the RF resonator over the partial volume of the measurement volume (2) occupied by the extended sample (3); and determining the number of electron
spins NS in extended sample (3) as a quotient between the weighted
resonance signal and the resonator sensitivity constant c. The method facilitates a simpler determination of the
absolute number of electron spins in the sample.