Noll (2006) MRI Notes 1: page 1 Notes on MRI, Part 1 Overview Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – Imaging of magnetic moments that result from the quantum mechanical property of nuclear spin. The average behavior of many spins results in a net magnetization of the tissue. The spins possess a natural frequency that is proportional to the magnetic field. This is called the Larmor relationship: Bγω= Any magnetization that is transverse (perpendicular) to an applied magnetic field B will precess around that B field at the Larmor frequency. In MRI there are 3 kinds of magnetic fields: 1. B0 – the main magnetic field 2. B1 – an RF field that excites the spins 3. Gx, Gy, Gz – the gradient fields that provide localization The major steps in a 1D MRI experiment are (we’ll do 2 and 3 acquisitions later): 1. Object to be imaged is placed into the main field, B0. Subsequently, the object develops a distribution of magnetization, m0(x,y,z), that is to be imaged. This magnetization is aligned with B0 (in the z-direction). 2. A rotating RF magnetic field, B1, is applied to tip the magnetization into the plane that is transverse to B0. While in this plane, the magnetization precesses about the main field at aNoll (2006) MRI Notes 1: page 2 frequency proportional to the strength of the main field (ω = γB). This precessing magnetization creates a voltage in a receive coil, which is acquired for subsequent processing. MByxzω0v(t)v(t)t 3. Gradient magnetic fields are applied to set-up a one-to-one correspondence between spatial position and frequency. For example, if we apply an x gradient, Gx, the magnetic field distribution is: B(x) = B0 + Gx.x, and thus: ω(x) = ω0 + γGx.x. By performing Fourier analysis on the received signal we can localize the magnetization in 1D: {}xGfxtsFdydzzyxmxmγωπ/)2(00)(),,()(−=∫∫==Noll (2006) MRI Notes 1: page 3 4. Following excitation, the magnetization in the transverse plane (x-y)decays away with time constant T2, e.g. 2/0)(Ttxyemtm−= , and the z-component recovers with time constant T1, e.g. )1()(1/0Ttzemtm−−= . After this, the steps is repeated many times. NMR Physics The physical basis of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) centers around the concept of a nuclear “spin,” its associated angular momentum and its magnetic moment. What is nuclear spin? “Spin” is a purely quantum mechanical quantity with no direct classical analogue (though we will talk about one anyway). We call it spin because this quantity give nuclei a net angular momentum (it also gives a nucleus its magnetic moment as well). Consider a proton or hydrogen (1H) nucleus. Spin will give this nucleus a “spin angular momentum,” s, and a magnetic moment, μ, which are related though a proportionality constant, γ, in the following equation: μ = γ s s and μ are vector quantities and like many things in quantum mechanics, they can only take on discrete values. This analogy is suspect, but I’ll give it anyway. The classical analogue to the nuclear spin is a small charged sphere (representing a proton). The mass of the spinning particle give the angularNoll (2006) MRI Notes 1: page 4 momentum and the charge on the surface give the net magnetic moment. The net magnetic moment can be viewed as a small magnetic dipole or bar magnet. s,μmNS What nuclei exhibit this magnetic moment (and thus are candidates for NMR)? Nuclei with: odd number of protons odd number of neutrons odd number of both Magnetic moments: 1H, 2H, 3He, 31P, 23Na, 17O, 13C, 19F No magnetic moment: 4He, 16O, 12C Spin Physics Before talking about spins in a magnetic field, it is useful to review the behavior of a top in a gravitational field. And before talking about that, let’s review the cross product operator. Cross-product. We start with a review of the cross-product operator: nABˆsinα=×BA where nˆ is the unit vector perpendicular to A and B. The sign of nˆ is determined by the “right hand rule.”Noll (2006) MRI Notes 1: page 5 yxzABαAxB Equations of motion for a top in a gravitational field LαLF=mgr In this drawing, the force generated by the mass of the top and the gravitational field (F = mg) appears to be acting at the center of mass of the top, which is located at position r, a distance r from the tip of the top. The angular momentum of the top is L (F, L, g, and r are all vector quantities). The simplified equation of motion for this top, describes the torque on the angular momentum: gLLgLFLFrLT⎟⎠⎞⎜⎝⎛×=×=×=×==LrmdtdmLrnrdtddtdrˆ The tip of the angular momentum vector move at a speed given by:Noll (2006) MRI Notes 1: page 6 θsinrmgdtd=L where θ is the angle between the axis of the top and the direction of the gravitational field (vertical axis). The direction the tip moves is perpendicular to the plane containing the axes of both L and g (the top and gravitational field). This is always true and the thus as the position of the top changes, so does the direction of movement. The locus of points traced out by the tip of the L vector form a circle. dLdLdLdLLTOP VIEWyxzL These relationship works out so that the top precesses around the gravitational field. It can be shown that the precession frequency is: Ω = (rmg)/L (units are radians per second) Thus the top will precess around g at a rate proportional to the mass of the top, the strength of the gravitational field, the distance from the tip to the center of mass and inversely proportional to the angular momentum (which is related to the distribution of mass). Classical description of a spin in a magnetic field. Since the spin had angular momentum, it does not just snap to alignment with the field (like the needle on a compass). This is much like a top in a gravitational field – the gravitational field exerts a torque on the top causing it to precess rather than fall in the direction of the gravitational field. A spin (characterized by s and μ) in a magnetic field B, behaves as follows:Noll (2006) MRI Notes 1: page 7 BBs×=×=μμμγdtddtd The second expression follows from μ = γ s. For the case where μ and B are perpendicular, then the magnitude of dμ/dt (speed at which the tip of μ moves) is |γμB| = γμB. μyxzBdμ=γμB dt Given that the circumference of the circle here is 2πμ, the time for one cycle of precession is 2πμ/γμB, and the frequency of precession is thus, f =γB/2π or ω =γB. The