Effects of static and radiofrequency magnetic field inhomogeneity in ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging

To characterize the severe static (B(0)) and radiofrequency (B(1)) magnetic field inhomogeneity in ultra-high field (> or =7 T) magnetic resonance imaging, gradient echo (GE) and spin echo (SE) images of in vivo and postmortem human brains were acquired. The B(0) and B(1) inhomogeneity were experimentally mapped and/or numerically simulated, and correlated with the image artifacts. Whereas B(0) inhomogeneity affects predominantly GE images near air/tissue interfaces, B(1) inhomogeneity affects SE images more severely and shows non-intuitive patterns. Mapping of the B(0) and B(1) inhomogeneity is important in characterizing image artifacts. This will help develop better B(0) and B(1) inhomogeneity correction methods.     

Artifacts in T1 rho-weighted imaging: compensation for B(1) and B(0) field imperfections

The origin of spin locking image artifacts in the presence of B(0) and B(1) magnetic field imperfections is shown theoretically using the Bloch equations and experimentally at low (omega(1) < Delta omega(0)), intermediate (omega(1) approximately Delta omega(0)) and high (omega(1) > Delta omega(0)) spin locking field strengths. At low spin locking fields, the magnetization is shown to oscillate about an effective field in the rotating frame causing signature banding artifacts in the image. At high spin lock fields, the effect of the resonance offset Deltao mega(0) is quenched, but imperfections in the flip angle cause oscillations about the omega(1) field. A new pulse sequence is presented that consists of an integrated spin echo and spin lock experiment followed by magnetization storage along the -z-axis. It is shown that this sequence almost entirely eliminates banding artifacts from both types of field inhomogeneities at all spin locking field strengths. The sequence was used to obtain artifact free images of agarose in inhomogeneous B(0) and B(1) fields, off-resonance spins in fat and in vivo human brain images at 3 T. The new pulse sequence can be used to probe very low frequency (0-400 Hz) dynamic and static interactions in tissues without contaminating B(0) and B(1) field artifacts.     

TriTone: a radiofrequency field (B1)-insensitive T1 estimator for MRI at high magnetic fields

Fast, high-resolution, longitudinal relaxation time (T1) mapping is invaluable in clinical and research applications. It has been shown that two spoiled gradient recalled echo (SPGR) images acquired in steady state with variable flip angles is an attractive alternative to the multi-image sets previously acquired with inversion or saturation recovery. The known sensitivity of the two-point method to transmit radiofrequency field (B1) inhomogeneity exacerbated at 3 T and above, however, mandates its combination with an additional, time-consuming and possibly specific-absorption-rate-intensive B1 measurement, preventing direct migration of the method to these fields. To address this, we introduce a method designed to be free of systematic errors caused by B1 inhomogeneity in which the value of T1 is extracted from three SPGR images acquired with echo planar imaging (EPI) readout. The precision of the T1 maps produced is found to be comparable to the two-point method, while the accuracy is greatly improved in the same time and spatial resolution. A welcome byproduct of the method is a map of B1 that can be used to correct other acquisitions in the same session. Tables of the optimal acquisition protocols are provided for several total imaging times.     

Correction of B0 susceptibility induced distortion in diffusion-weighted images using large-deformation diffeomorphic metric mapping

Geometric distortion caused by B0 inhomogeneity is one of the most important problems for diffusion-weighted images (DWI) using single-shot, echo planar imaging (SS-EPI). In this study, large-deformation, diffeomorphic metric mapping (LDDMM) algorithm has been tested for the correction of geometric distortion in diffusion tensor images (DTI). Based on data from nine normal subjects, the amount of distortion caused by B0 susceptibility in the 3-T magnet was characterized. The distortion quality was validated by manually placing landmarks in the target and DTI images before and after distortion correction. The distortion was found to be up to 15 mm in the population-averaged map and could be more than 20 mm in individual images. Both qualitative demonstration and quantitative statistical results suggest that the highly elastic geometric distortion caused by spatial inhomogeneity of the B0 field in DTI using SS-EPI can be effectively corrected by LDDMM. This postprocessing method is especially useful for correcting existent DTI data without phase maps.     

Origin of the enhanced copper spin echo decay rate in the pseudogap regime of the multilayer high-T(c) cuprates

We report measurements of the anisotropy of the spin echo decay for the inner layer Cu site of the triple layer cuprate Hg(0.8)Re(0.2)Ba(2)Ca(2)Cu(3)O(8) (T(c)=126 K). The angular dependence of the second moment (T(-2)(2M) identical with ) deduced from the decay curves indicates that T(-2)(2M) for H0 parallel c is enhanced in the pseudogap regime below T(pg) approximately 170 K, as seen in bilayer systems. Comparison of T(-2)(2M) between H0 parallel c and H0 perpendicular c indicates that this enhancement is caused by electron spin correlations between the inner and the outer CuO2 layers. The results provide the answer to the long-standing controversy regarding the opposite T dependences of (T1T)(-1) and T(-2)(2G) (T(2G): Gaussian component) in the pseudogap regime of multilayer systems.     

Study of B-->D(*)sJ +-D(*) decays

We report a study of D(*)(sJ)(2317)(+) and D(sJ)(2460)(+) meson production in B decays. We observe the decays B+-->D((*)+)(sJ)D ((*)0) and B0-->D((*)+)(sJ)D((*)-) with the subsequent decays D(*)(sJ)(2317)(+)-->D(+)(s)pi(0), D(sJ)(2460)(+)-->D(+)(s)gamma, and D(sJ)(2460)(+)-->D(*+)(s)pi(0). Based on a data sample of 122.1 x 10(6) BB pairs collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II B factory, we obtain branching fractions for these modes, including the previously unseen decays B-->D((*)+)(sJ)D(*). In addition, we perform an angular analysis of D(sJ)(2460)(+)-->D(+)(s)gamma decays to test the different D(sJ)(2460)(+) spin hypotheses.     

Observation of B+-->K1(1270)+gamma

We report the observation of the radiative decay B+-->K1(1270)(+) gamma using a data sample of 140 fb(-1) taken at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+e- collider. We find the branching fraction to be B(B+-->K1(1270)(+)gamma)=(4.3+/-0.9(stat.)+/-0.9(syst.))x10(-5) with a significance of 7.3sigma. We find no significant signal for B+-->K1(1400)(+)gamma and set an upper limit B(B+-->K1(1400)(+)gamma)<1.5 x 10(-5) at the 90% confidence level. We also measure inclusive branching fractions for B+-->K+pi+pi-gamma and B0-->K0pi+pi-gamma in the mass range 1 GeV/c(2)相似文献   

Dephasing relaxation of the electron spin echo of the vibronic Cu(H(2)O)(6) complexes in Tutton salt crystals at low temperatures.

Two-pulse electron spin echo (ESE) measurements of the phase relaxation (phase memory time T(M)) were performed in a series of Tutton salt crystals M(I)(2)M(II)(SO(4))(2).6X(2)O (M(I)=NH(4), K, Cs; M(II)=Zn, Mg; X=H, D) weakly doped with Cu(2+) ions (c approximately equal to 10(18) ions/cm(3)) in temperature range 4-60 K where ESE signals were detectable. The ESE decay was strongly modulated with proton (or deuteron) frequencies and described by the decay function V(2tau)=V(0)exp(-btau-mtau(2)) with the mtau(2) term being temperature independent and negligible above 20 K. Various mechanisms leading to the tau- or tau(2)-type ESE decay are reviewed. The m and b coefficients for nuclear spectral diffusion (NSD), electron spectral diffusion (SD), and instantaneous diffusion (ID) were calculated in terms of existing theories and the resulting rigid lattice T(0)(M) times were found to be close one to another within the crystal family with average values: 17.5 micros (NSD protons), 200 micros (NSD deuterons), 8 micros (SD), and 5 micros (ID). The ID dominates but the calculated effective T(M)(0) is longer than the experimental T(M)(0)=2 micros. This is due to a nonuniform distribution of the Cu(2+) ions with a various degree of the disorder in the studied crystals. The acceleration of the dephasing rate 1/T(M) with temperature is due to the mechanisms producing exp(-btau) decay. They are reviewed and two of them were found to be operative in Tutton salt crystals: (a) Excitations to the vibronic levels of energy Delta leading to the temperature dependence 1/T(M)=B exp(-Delta/kT), with the vibronic levels produced by strong Jahn-Teller effect, and (b) spin-lattice relaxation processes being effective above 50 K. Based on the Delta values being on the order of 100 cm(-1), the scheme of vibronic levels in the Tutton salts is presented, and the independence of the Delta on temperature proves that the adiabatic potential surface shape of Jahn-Teller active Cu(H(2)O)(6) complexes is not affected by temperature below 65 K.     

Experimental constraints on the spin and parity of the Lambdac(2880)+

We report the results of several studies of the Lambda(c)(+)pi(+)pi(-)X final state in continuum e(+)e(-) annihilation data collected by the Belle detector. An analysis of angular distributions in Lambda(c)(2880)(+)-->Sigma(c)(2455)(0,++)pi(+,-) decays strongly favors a Lambda(c)(2880)(+) spin assignment of 5/2 over 3/2 or 1/2. We find evidence for Lambda(c)(2880)(+)-->Sigma(c)(2520)(0,++)pi(+,-) decay and measure the ratio of Lambda(c)(2880)(+) partial widths Gamma(Sigma(c)(2520)pi)/Gamma(Sigma(c)(2455)pi)=0.225+/-0.062+/-0.025. This value favors the Lambda(c)(2880)(+) spin-parity assignment of 5/2(+) over 5/2(-). We also report the first observation of Lambda(c)(2940)(+)-->Sigma(c)(2455)(0,++)pi(+,-) decay and measure Lambda(c)(2880)(+) and Lambda(c)(2940)(+) mass and width parameters. These studies are based on a 553 fb(-1) data sample collected at or near the Upsilon(4S) resonance at the KEKB collider.     

Measurement of the CP-violating phase ϕ(s) in the decay B(s)(0) → J/ψϕ

We present a measurement of the time-dependent CP-violating asymmetry in B(s)(0) → J/ψ? decays, using data collected with the LHCb detector at the LHC. The decay time distribution of B(s)(0) → J/ψ? is characterized by the decay widths Γ(H) and Γ(L) of the heavy and light mass eigenstates, respectively, of the B(s)(0) - B(s)(0) system and by a CP-violating phase ?(s). In a sample of about 8500 B(s)(0) → J/ψ? events isolated from 0.37 fb(-1) of pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 7 TeV, we measure ?(s) = 0.15 ± 0.18(stat) ± 0.06(syst) rad. We also find an average B(s)(0) decay width Γ(s) ≡ (Γ(L) + Γ(H))/2 = 0.657 ± 0.009(stat) ± 0.008(syst) ps(-1) and a decay width difference ΔΓ(s) ≡ Γ(L) - Γ(H) = 0.123 ± 0.029(stat) ± 0.011(syst) ps(-1). Our measurement is insensitive to the transformation (?(s),ΔΓ(s)) ? (π - ?(s), -ΔΓ(s)).     

Observation of the hc(1P1) state of charmonium

The h(c)((1)P(1)) state of charmonium has been observed in the reaction psi(2S) --> pi(0)h(c) --> (gammagamma)(gammaeta(c)) using 3.08 x10(6) psi(2S) decays recorded in the CLEO detector. Data have been analyzed both for the inclusive reaction, where the decay products of the eta(c) are not identified, and for exclusive reactions, in which eta(c) decays are reconstructed in seven hadronic decay channels. We find M(h(c)) = 3524.4 +/- 0.6 +/- 0.4 MeV which corresponds to a hyperfine splitting DeltaM(hf)(1P) triple-bond pi(0)h(c)) x B(h(c) --> gammaeta(c)) = (4.0 +/- 0.8 +/- 0.7) x 10(-4).     

Fast and high-resolution quantitative mapping of tissue water content with full brain coverage for clinically-driven studies

An efficient method for obtaining longitudinal relaxation time (T1) maps is based on acquiring two spoiled gradient recalled echo (SPGR) images in steady states with different flip angles, which has also been extended, with additional acquisitions, to obtain a tissue water content (M0) map. Several factors, including inhomogeneities of the radio-frequency (RF) fields and low signal-to-noise ratios may negatively affect the accuracy of this method and produce systematic errors in T1 and M0 estimations. Thus far, these limitations have been addressed by using additional measurements and applying suitable corrections; however, the concomitant increase in scan time is undesirable for clinical studies. In this note, a modified dual-acquisition SPGR method based on an optimization of the sequence formulism is presented for good and reliable M0 mapping with an isotropic spatial resolution of 1 × 1 × 1 mm³ that covers the entire human brain in 6:30 min. A combined RF transmit/receive map is estimated from one of the SPGR scans and the optimal flip angles for M0 map are found analytically. The method was successfully evaluated in eight healthy subjects producing mean M0 values of 69.8% (in white matter) and 80.1% (in gray matter) that are in good agreement with those found in the literature and with high reproducibility. The mean value of the resultant voxel-based coefficients-of-variation was 3.6%.     

High-Resolution Spectroscopy of Jet-Cooled (32)SO(2) and (34)SO(2): The ã(3)B(1)-;X(1)A(1), 2(1)(0) and 1(1)(0) Bands

Laser-induced excitation spectra of the two bands ?(3)B(1)-;X(1)A(1), 2(1)(0) and 1(1)(0) of (32)SO(2) and (34)SO(2) have been recorded in a supersonic jet at a resolution of 0.015 cm(-1). The rotational and electron-spin fine structure has been analyzed for both isotopic species. Analysis of the rotational and electron-spin fine structure yields precise values of the rotational constants A, B, and C and the spin constants alpha and beta for both (32)SO(2) and (34)SO(2) in the states ?(3)B(1) (010) and (100). No interaction between these two vibrational states with any nearby triplet state is observed for rotational levels with J 相似文献   

Observation of B+-->a1+(1260)K0 and B0-->a1-(1260)K+

We present branching fraction measurements of the decays B(+)-->a(1)(+)(1260)K(0) and B(0)-->a(1)(-)(1260)K(+) with a(1)(+/-)(1260)-->pi(-/+)pi(+/-)pi(+/-). The data sample corresponds to 383 x 10(6) BB pairs produced in e(+)e(-) annihilation through the Upsilon(4S) resonance. We measure the products of the branching fractions B(B(+)-->a(1)(+)(1260)K(0)B(a(1)(+)(1260)-->pi(-)pi(+)pi(+))=(17.4+/-2.5+/-2.2) x 10(-6) and B(B(0)-->a(1)(-)(1260)K(+)B(a(1)(-)(1260)-->pi(+)pi(-)pi(-)) = (8.2+/-1.5+/-1.2) x 10(-6). We also measure the charge asymmetries A(ch)(B(+)-->a(1)(+)(1260)K(0) = 0.12+/-0.11+/-0.02 and A(ch)(B(0)-->a(1)(-)(1260)K+) = -0.16+/-0.12+/-0.01. The first uncertainty quoted is statistical and the second is systematic.     

A simple correction for B1 field errors in magnetization transfer ratio measurements

B1 errors are a problem in magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) measurements because the MTR value is dependent on the amplitude of the magnetization transfer (MT) pulse. B1 errors can arise from radiofrequency (RF) nonuniformity (caused by the RF coil, or skin effect and dielectric resonance in the subject's head) and also from inaccurate setting of the transmitter output when compensating for varying amounts of loading of the RF coil. B1 errors, and hence MTR errors, may be up to 5-10%, a large source of error in quantitative MR measurements. Radiofrequency nonuniformity may cause MTR histograms to be broadened. The dependence of MTR on B1 was modeled using binary spin bath theory, with a continuous wave (CW) approximation. For B1 reductions of up to 20%, normalized plots for different brain tissue types could be approximated by a single line, indicating that a systematic correction could be applied to MTR measurements with a known B1 error, regardless of tissue type. On a 1.5-T scanner with a birdcage coil, MTR was measured in 18 tissue types in five controls. The MT pulse amplitude was reduced in steps from its nominal value by up to 20%. Averaging data over all controls and tissue types resulted in a line fitting mtr(normalized)=0.812b(1normalized)+0.193, where mtr(normalized) is the normalized value of MTR (relative to its value at the nominal B1) and b(1normalized) is the normalized value of B1 (relative to its nominal value). For a 20% reduction in MT pulse amplitude (i.e., b(1normalized)=0.80), the mean MTR value for the 18 tissue types was 7.0 percent units (pu) below the correct value. After correction using the single equation above for all tissue types, all MTR values were within 1.5 pu of their correct value [root mean square (rms) error=0.7 pu]. Magnetization transfer ratio values tended to be slightly overcorrected because the simple linear correction scheme is only an approximation to the true MTR dependence on B1. A B1 field mapping technique was implemented, based on the double angle method (DAM), with fast spin-echo (FSE) readout, and TR=15 s; this took a total of 6 min of imaging time. This was used to quantify B(1) errors and correct MTR maps and histograms. However, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) T1 is very long (approximately 4.2 s); thus, to achieve complete longitudinal relaxation (a requirement of the DAM B1 mapping method), an increase in TR and, hence, acquisition time would be required. In general, however, we are not interested in calculating the B1 in the CSF, although it is important that the B1 is determined in partial volume voxels around the CSF. Using our birdcage head coil, whole-brain B1 histograms were found to have full-width half maximums (FWHMs) ranging from just 6.8% to 11.5% of the nominal B1 value. The FSE DAM B1 field mapping technique was shown to be robust, although a longer TR time may be desirable to ensure complete elimination of CSF partial volume errors. The procedure can be applied on any scanner where the Euro-MT sequence is available, or alternatively, where the amplitude of B1 or of the MT pulse can be manually reduced in order to perform this type of "calibration" experiment for the particular MTR sequence used. The MTR is known to be highly dependent on the parameters of the sequence used, in particular, the MT pulse shape, flip angle, duration, and offset frequency, and the repetition time TR' between successive MT pulses. Therefore, correction schemes will differ for different MTR sequences, and new data sets would be required to calculate these different correction schemes.     

High-flip-angle slice-selective parallel RF transmission with 8 channels at 7 T

At high magnetic field, B(1)(+) non-uniformity causes undesired inhomogeneity in SNR and image contrast. Parallel RF transmission using tailored 3D k-space trajectory design has been shown to correct for this problem and produce highly uniform in-plane magnetization with good slice selection profile within a relatively short excitation duration. However, at large flip angles the excitation k-space based design method fails. Consequently, several large-flip-angle parallel transmission designs have recently been suggested. In this work, we propose and demonstrate a large-flip-angle parallel excitation design for 90 degrees and 180 degrees spin-echo slice-selective excitations that mitigate severe B(1)(+) inhomogeneity. The method was validated on an 8-channel transmit array at 7T using a water phantom with B(1)(+) inhomogeneity similar to that seen in human brain in vivo. Slice-selective excitations with parallel RF systems offer means to implement conventional high-flip excitation sequences without a severe pulse-duration penalty, even at very high B(0) field strengths where large B(1)(+) inhomogeneity is present.     

Dephasing of a superconducting flux qubit

In order to gain a better understanding of the origin of decoherence in superconducting flux qubits, we have measured the magnetic field dependence of the characteristic energy relaxation time (T(1)) and echo phase relaxation time (T(2)(echo)) near the optimal operating point of a flux qubit. We have measured T(2)(echo) by means of the phase cycling method. At the optimal point, we found the relation T(2)(echo) approximately 2T(1). This means that the echo decay time is limited by the energy relaxation (T(1) process). Moving away from the optimal point, we observe a linear increase of the phase relaxation rate (1/T(2)(echo)) with the applied external magnetic flux. This behavior can be well explained by the influence of magnetic flux noise with a 1/f spectrum on the qubit.     

Electron spin relaxation in pseudo-Jahn-Teller low-symmetry Cu(II) complexes in diaqua(L-aspartate)Zn(II).H(2)O crystals.

Low-temperature (4-55 K) pulsed EPR measurements were performed with the magnetic field directed along the z-axis of the g-factor of the low-symmetry octahedral complex [(63)Cu(L-aspartate)(2)(H2O)2] undergoing dynamic Jahn-Teller effect in diaqua(L-aspartate)Zn(II) hydrate single crystals. Spin-lattice relaxation time T(1) and phase memory time T(M) were determined by the electron spin echo (ESE) method. The relaxation rate 1/T(1) increases strongly over 5 decades in the temperature range 4-55 K. Various processes and mechanisms of T(1)-relaxation are discussed, and it is shown that the relaxation is governed mainly by Raman relaxation processes with the Debye temperature Theta(D)=204 K, with a detectable contribution from disorder in the doped Cu(2+) ions system below 12 K. An analytical approximation of the transport integral I(8) is given in temperature range T=0.025-10Theta(D) and applied for computer fitting procedures. Since the Jahn-Teller distorted configurations differ strongly in energy (delta(12)=240 cm(-1)), there is no influence of the classical vibronic dynamics mechanism on T(1). Dephasing of the ESE (phase relaxation) is governed by instantaneous diffusion and spectral diffusion below 20 K with resulting rigid lattice value 1/T(0)(M)=1.88 MHz. Above this temperature the relaxation rate 1/T(M) increases upon heating due to two mechanisms. The first is the phonon-controlled excitation to the first excited vibronic level of energy Delta=243 cm(-1), with subsequent tunneling to the neighbor potential well. This vibronic-type dynamics also produces a temperature-dependent broadening of lines in the ESEEM spectra. The second mechanism is produced by the spin-lattice relaxation. The increase in T(M) is described in terms of the spin packets forming inhomogeneously broadened EPR lines.     

Mapping the B1 field distribution with nonideal gradients in a high-resolution NMR spectrometer

To understand the behavior of many NMR experiments, it is important to determine the spatial distribution of the B1 field. In this paper, we show how this distribution can be mapped independently of spin density, coil responsiveness, and nonlinearities of the B0 field gradients. As a by-product we obtain a map of the (possibly nonlinear) spatial variation of the B0 field gradients used in the imaging procedure.     

The Millimeter- and Submillimeter-Wave Spectrum and the Dipole Moment of Ethylenimine

The 0(0)(0) bands of the ?(2)B(2)-&Xtilde;(2)A(1) and &Btilde;(2)B(1)-&Xtilde;(2)A(1) systems of SrNH(2) were observed at Doppler-limited resolution using a Broida oven source and laser-induced fluorescence detection. A full rotational analysis of both transitions was performed including K(a) levels up to 5 and J levels up to 55. The &Btilde;(2)B(1) state was found to be extensively perturbed and only some of the subbands could be analyzed. The ?(2)B(2) and &Btilde;(2)B(1) states undergo a strong Coriolis-type interaction which results in extremely large spin-rotation splittings in both states, effectively splitting all levels with K(a)(') not equal 0 into two well-separated spin components. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.