A constant gradient unilateral magnet for near-surface MRI profiling

The design and construction of a unilateral NMR (UMR) magnet assembly for near-surface 1D profiling is presented. The arrangement consists of a single permanent magnet topped with a shaped iron pole cap. The analytically determined profile of the pole cap shapes the field over the magnet, giving a constant gradient of 31 G/cm over a 8mm depth at a 1H frequency of 4.26 MHz in a spot approximately 5 mm wide. The moderate gradient allows 1D profiling of planar samples with a frequency encoded spin-echo experiment. The curvature of the magnetic field limits the available resolution to 100's of microm. The device is suitable for profiling planar samples in which a coarse resolution but large spatial extent is desired.     

Magnet designs for a crystal-lattice quantum computer

A quantum computer using nuclear spins in a crystal lattice requires a method for addressing individual quantum bits. This identification can be achieved with a spatially varying magnetic field. Spins at different lattice sites can have distinguishable Zeeman frequencies allowing initialization, logic operations, and measurements to be performed through radio frequency (rf) pulse techniques. Here, we present magnet designs that have gradients between 1 and 20 T/7m, which are necessary to realize quantum computation with particular crystals.     

A unilateral NMR magnet for sub-structure analysis in the built environment: the Surface GARField

A new, portable NMR magnet with a tailored magnetic field profile and a complementary radio frequency sensor have been designed and constructed for the purpose of probing in situ the sub-surface porosity of cement based materials in the built environment. The magnet is a one sided device akin to a large NMR-MOUSE with the additional design specification of planes of constant field strength /B0/ parallel to the surface. There is a strong gradient G in the field strength perpendicular to these planes. As with earlier GARField magnets, the ratio G//:B0/ is a system constant although the method of achieving this condition is substantially different. The new magnet as constructed is able to detect signals 50mm (1H NMR at 3.2 MHz) away from the surface of the magnet and can profile the surface layers of large samples to a depth of 35-40 mm by moving the magnet, and hence the resonant plane of the polarising field, relative to the sample surface. The matching radio frequency excitation/detector coil has been designed to complement the static magnetic field such that the polarising B0 and sensing B1 fields are, in principal, everywhere orthogonal. Preliminary spatially resolved measurements are presented of cement based materials, including two-dimensional T1-T2 relaxation correlation spectra.     

A novel high-gradient permanent magnet for the profiling of planar films and coatings.

The design and construction of a low-cost, permanent magnet is described. The magnet is intended for applications which require a large static gradient, such as those for which stray field imaging or fringe field diffusometry are conventionally employed. The magnet has been designed using the scalar potential method. Particular features of the magnet include a field profile such that ||B || is constant in the horizontal plane and such that B is horizontal at the midpoint between the poles. There is a vertical, and therefore orthogonal, strong gradient, G, in ||B ||. The ratio G/ ||B || is constant within a large volume and so allows measurements at a range of gradient strengths. It is this ratio which governs the shape of the pole-pieces. The constructed magnet has a typical operating field of 0.8 T, gives a gradient of 20 Tm-1, and has a useable interpole access of 20 mm. Field plot data show values consistent with the theory. In particular ||B || has a curvature of less than +/-5 microm over a 5 x 5 mm area at the target field. The magnet is most suitable for the one-dimensional profiling of thin planar samples. As an example of the magnet's use, a profile of a sandwich structure made of several polymer layers is shown. In addition, a set of one-dimensional profiles of an alkyd coating, recorded during solvent loss and cross-linking, is presented. This example demonstrates quantitative T2 measurements at a resolution of 6.5 microm across a 70-microm-thick film.     

Magnetic resonance profiling studies of the drying of film-forming aqueous dispersions and glue layers

We report magnetic resonance profiling experiments to monitor (i) the drying of alkyd emulsion layers, (ii) the cure of wood glue layers and (iii) water transport through glue lines. The alkyd drying is a two stage process. We report new results which support previous evidence that the alkyd drops do not coalesce until the water fraction is below circa 0.02. The profiles recorded from glue layers suggest that MR is a sensitive probe of the curing process and barrier properties of the glue. The measurements were made using GARField (stray field, STRAFI like) magnetic resonance profiling and an improved GARField magnet design characterized by two values of the gradient-to-field strength ratio at two locations offering the same field strength is also reported.     

Potential hazards of NMR imaging. No evidence of the possible effects of static and changing magnetic fields on cardiac function of the rat and guinea pig

Clinical proton NMR imaging uses magnetic field strengths in the range 0.1 to 0.5 T. In addition to the large static magnetic field, patients are exposed to magnetic field gradients during imaging and under extreme conditions, such as power failure or quenching, the field may collapse precipitously. A potential source of hazard to patients under these conditions is the induction of thoracic currents which may trigger ventricular fibrillation. In the present experiments, a 0.16 T resistive magnet with a time constant of 60 ms, powered by a programmable power supply, was used to examine any possible effects of static and changing magnetic field on the ECG and arterial blood pressure of anesthetized rats and guinea pigs. Animals were exposed to the following field conditions: static fields of 0.16 T; sine, triangular, and square wave modulated fields from 0.1 to 2 Hz; rapid field switches in excess of 2.0 T/s for 25 ms timed to occur at different stages of the cardiac cycle, including the vulnerable period during ventricular repolarization; and AC fields of 50 Hz. No change was observed in the blood pressure, heart rate, or ECG under any of the field conditions examined.     

一种粒子谱仪用高均匀性高磁通密度永磁组件

研制的永磁组件采用主辅永磁体和匀场技术相结合的改进C型磁路结构,利用计算机仿真技术对组件磁路结构进行验证及优化。仿真分析及实验结果表明:采用这种磁路结构扩大了均匀区的范围,提高了磁场均匀性。按这种结构制造的永磁组件在20 mm气隙、中心平面200 mm120 mm均匀区内气隙磁通密度达到0.75 T,不均匀度为0.67%。另外,也对永磁组件在高低温下的磁性能进行了仿真计算,结果表明:在-55~70 ℃温度范围内均匀区的气隙磁通密度变化为4%左右。     

Single-sided mobile NMR apparatus using the transverse flux of a single permanent magnet

This study presents a simple design for a mobile, single-sided nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) apparatus which uses the magnetic flux parallel to the magnetization direction of a single, disc-shaped permanent magnet polarized in radial direction. The stray magnetic field above the magnet is approximately parallel to the magnetization direction of the magnet and is utilized as the B₀ magnetic field of the apparatus. The apparatus weighs 1.8 kg, has a compact structure and can be held in one's palm. The apparatus generates a B₀ field strength of about 0.279 T at the center of apparatus surface and can acquire a clear Hahn echo signal of a pencil eraser block lying on the RF coil in one shot. Moreover, a strong static magnetic field gradient exists in the direction perpendicular to the apparatus surface. The strength of the static magnetic field gradient near the center of the apparatus surface is about 10.2 T/m; one-dimensional imaging of thin objects and liquid self-diffusion coefficient measurements can be performed therein. The available spatial resolution of the one-dimensional imaging experiments using a 5×5 mm horizontal sample area is about 200 μm. Several nondestructive inspection applications of the apparatus, including distinguishing between polyethylene grains of different densities, characterizing epoxy putties of distinct set times and evaluating the fat content percentages of milk powders, are also demonstrated. Compared with many previously published designs, the proposed design bears a simple structure and generates a B₀ magnetic field parallel to the apparatus surface, simplifying apparatus construction and simultaneously rendering the selection of the radiofrequency coil relatively flexible.     

用于超导实验的背场磁体研制

在进行超导材料特性、交流损耗测量等超导实验时,需要为实验提供大小可变、均匀性好的背景磁场。文中对自行研制的背场磁体进行了测试研究,发现选择性对组合铜线圈供电能够提供合适的磁场,满足实验的要求。     

Internal magnetic gradient fields in glass bead packs from numerical simulations and constant time diffusion spin echo measurements

Internal magnetic field gradients in water saturated glass bead packs were studied by numerical simulations and a constant time spin echo (CTSE) experiment. The CTSE is comprised of two spin echo refocusing periods where each of the two evolution periods, tau1 and tau2, is varied so that the total evolution, 2(tau1 + tau2), is held constant. The experiment is similar to that introduced by Norwood and Quilter and allows the effects of dephasing due to diffusion in a magnetic field gradient to be separated from other relaxation mechanisms. In our experiments, the magnetic susceptibility difference between the pore fluid and glass beads creates the internal field gradient. CTSE measurements were performed at 7 T (300 MHz 1H) for water saturated in 50 microm diameter glass bead pack. We find that the internal gradients in the center of the pore bodies, where free diffusion applies, is in the range of 10 to 100 G/cm. This fluid volume accounts for < or =10% of the total pore volume. From direct numerical simulations of the internal magnetic field based on a first principles calculation, we find that the major fraction, >90%, of the pore volume has internal gradients of order 500 to 5,000 G/cm. Signals from water in these large gradients is not observed in our CTSE measurements.     

Probing four orders of magnitude of the diffusion time in porous silica glass with unconventional NMR techniques

The combined use of two unconventional NMR diffusometry techniques permits measurements of the self-diffusion coefficient of fluids confined in porous media in the time range from 100 microseconds to seconds. The fringe field stimulated echo technique (FFStE) exploits the strong steady gradient in the fringe field of a superconducting magnet. Using a standard 9.4 T (400 MHz) wide-bore magnet, for example, the gradient is 22 T/m at 375 MHz proton resonance and reaches 60 T/m at 200 MHz. Extremely short diffusion times can be probed on this basis. The magnetization grid rotating frame imaging technique (MAGROFI) is based on gradients of the radio frequency (RF) field. The RF gradients not necessarily need be constant since the data are acquired with spatial resolution along the RF gradient direction. MAGROFI is also well suited for unilateral NMR applications where all fields are intrinsically inhomogeneous. The RF gradients reached depend largely on the RF coil diameter and geometry. Using a conic shape, a value of at least 0.3 T/m can be reached which is suitable for long-time diffusion measurements. Both techniques do not require any special hardware and can be implemented on standard high RF power NMR spectrometers. As an application, the influence of the tortuosity increasing with the diffusion time is examined in a saturated porous silica glass.     

Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of the Magnetic Field of a Strongly Magnetized Permanent Magnet

An analytical expression is obtained for the magnetic strength of a permanent magnet in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped uniformly magnetized at an angle to its lateral faces. The results from experimental measurements of the magnetic field strength of a permanent magnet in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped using a Hall sensor are presented and compared to those from analytical calculations.     

Multidimensional imaging using combined stray field and pulsed gradients

The paper describes an advance in stray field imaging (STRAFI) whereby images of planar samples can be obtained in the stray field of a superconducting magnet without the need for sample rotation. This is achieved by using the static stray magnetic field gradient in combination with pulsed orthogonal gradients. Results of both two- and three-dimensional implementations of the experiment are presented and discussed. An extension to diffusion-weighted imaging is introduced. The technique is expected to prove particularly useful in experiments where high resolution is required in only one direction while lower resolution is acceptable in the orthogonal directions, such as in studies of the drying and curing of paints and varnishes. Arising from the work, a new method for accurately calibrating the radiofrequency pulse width in stray field is found.     

Comparison of adjustable permanent magnetic field sources

A permanent magnet assembly in which the flux density can be altered by a mechanical operation is often significantly smaller than comparable electromagnets and also requires no electrical power to operate. In this paper five permanent magnet designs in which the magnetic flux density can be altered are analyzed using numerical simulations, and compared based on the generated magnetic flux density in a sample volume and the amount of magnet material used. The designs are the concentric Halbach cylinder, the two half Halbach cylinders, the two linear Halbach arrays and the four and six rod mangle. The concentric Halbach cylinder design is found to be the best performing design, i.e. the design that provides the most magnetic flux density using the least amount of magnet material. A concentric Halbach cylinder has been constructed and the magnetic flux density, the homogeneity and the direction of the magnetic field are measured and compared with numerical simulation and a good agrement is found.     

平顶脉冲磁场连续微调控系统设计

针对现有电容器放电开环控制产生的平顶脉冲磁场稳定度难以满足核磁共振要求这一问题,提出一种平顶磁场闭环连续微调控方案。在脉冲磁体中放置一个补偿线圈,其由蓄电池供电,采用前馈控制加反馈控制的策略,利用IGBT有源区对补偿线圈的磁场进行线性调控,补偿背景磁场的波动,形成高稳定度平顶磁场。为此,设计了IGBT工作于有源区的驱动电路,搭建了原型机进行实验,结果表明,该方法能够将磁场稳定度提升至50×10?6,验证了方案的可行性。     

NMR phase noise in bitter magnets

We have studied the temporal instability of a high field resistive Bitter magnet through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). This instability leads to transverse spin decoherence in repeated and accumulated NMR experiments as is normally performed during signal averaging. We demonstrate this effect via Hahn echo and Carr--Purcell--Meiboom--Gill (CPMG) transverse relaxation experiments in a 23-T resistive magnet. Quantitative analysis was found to be consistent with separate measurements of the magnetic field frequency fluctuation spectrum, as well as with independent NMR experiments performed in a magnetic field with a controlled instability. Finally, the CPMG sequence with short pulse delays is shown to be successful in recovering the intrinsic spin--spin relaxation even in the presence of magnetic field temporal instability.     

用于木材水分检测的单边核磁共振传感器设计

为了实现对木材水分的无损检测,设计了一种单边核磁共振（unilateral nuclear magnetic resonance,UMR）传感器,该传感器由单边磁体、抗涡流板、射频线圈、阻抗匹配和调谐电路构成．在距离传感器表面上方75 mm处的50 mm×50 mm的平面内,建立了71.1 mT（共振频率为3.027 MHz）的静态磁场．本文详细介绍了该传感器的设计思路和实现方法,并开展了初步的木材水分无损测量实验．对圆柱形树桩的径向水分分布进行了一维扫描测量,观察了水分由树皮向树芯逐步深入过程中横向弛豫时间（T₂）的变化规律,还使用UMR仪对木材干燥过程中水分的挥发进行了测量.实验结果表明,随着干燥的加剧,被测样品T₂谱的长T₂波峰明显左移、积分面积渐减,而且积分面积与木材样品含水率呈正比．本文为木材研究提供了一种便携的NMR测量设备设计方案,且可以实现野外活体树木的无损测量．     

Background gradient suppression in pulsed gradient stimulated echo measurements

Pulsed gradient spin echo (PGSE) experiments can be used to measure the probability distribution of molecular displacements. In homogeneous samples this reports on the molecular diffusion coefficient, and in heterogeneous samples, such as porous media and biological tissue, such measurements provide information about the sample's morphology. In heterogeneous samples however background gradients are also present and prevent an accurate measurement of molecular displacements. The interference of time independent background gradients with the applied magnetic field gradients can be removed through the use of bipolar gradient pulses. However, when the background gradients are spatially non-uniform molecular diffusion introduces a temporal modulation of the background gradients. This defeats simple bipolar gradient suppression of background gradients in diffusion related measurements. Here we introduce a new method that requires the background gradients to be constant over coding intervals only. Since the coding intervals are typically at least an order of magnitude shorter than the storage time, this new method succeeds in suppressing cross-terms for a much wider range of heterogeneous samples.     

Interpretation of restricted diffusion in sandstones with internal field gradients.

We report on experiments to characterize internal magnetic field gradients that are caused by magnetic susceptibility differences between the solid phase and the fluids filling the pore space. Our measurements focus on low-field relaxometry of brine and oil in sandstones from various reservoirs around the world. Our results show the need to understand the dependence of internal field gradients on diffusion length, pore size- and fluid distribution in order to predict the impact of internal gradients on the interpretation of NMR experiments.     

An Evershed type superconducting flywheel bearing

The objective of this work is to develop a bearing using high temperature superconductors (HTSs) for use in an energy storage flywheel. The experimental apparatus includes a cylindrical rotor levitated with the Evershed design in which the majority of the levitation force is provided by a permanent magnet arrangement and the stabilization of the system is achieved by HTS elements. The design characteristics and dynamics of the bearing associated with the rotor part are presented. The instrumentation measures the out of balance force and magnetomechanical stiffness associated with the rotor. A study of the rotational losses was performed using free spin down experiments associated with magnetic field variation measurements. The results are consistent with the loss being caused by hysteresis in the superconductor due to magnet inhomogeneity.