Magic sandwich echo relaxation mapping of anisotropic systems

The main objective of this article was (i) to refocus the residual dipolar and quadrupolar interactions in anisotropic tissues employing magic sandwich echo (MSE) imaging and to compare the results with that of conventional spin-echo (SE) imaging, and (ii) to quantify MSE relaxation and dispersion characteristics in bovine Achilles tendon and compare with spin-lattice relaxation time constant in the rotating frame (T(1rho)). Magic sandwich echo weighted images are approximately 75-100% higher in signal-to-noise ratio than the corresponding T(2)-weighted images. Magic sandwich echo relaxation times varied from 13+/-2 to 19+/-3 ms (mean+/-S.D.), depending upon the structural location of tendon. T(2) relaxation times only varied from 4+/-1 to 10+/-3 ms (mean+/-S.D.) on the same corresponding locations. Magic sandwich echo provides approximately 100% enhancement in relaxation times compared to T(2). Preliminary results based on bovine Achilles tendon and cartilage specimens suggest that the MSE technique has potential for refocusing residual dipolar as well as quadrupolar interactions in anisotropic systems and yields higher intensities than conventional SE imaging as well as T(1rho)-encoded imaging, especially at low-burst pulse amplitudes (250 and 500 Hz).     

Triple quantum nutation in the two-level NMR system in the rotating frame

The authors present the detailed theory and the new results associated with the triple quantum (TQ) nutation and the line narrowing effect of the TQ resonance in the two-level NMR system which we reported previously. The TQ resonance is induced in the spin-locked system by the oscillating field produced by the sinusoidal phase modulation (PM) of the RF field. The theory predicts that the TQ nutation is accompanied by several higher frequency oscillations and we detected them experimentally by improving the detection system. These higher frequency oscillations are due to the fluctuation of the angle between the transverse or effective field causing the TQ nutation and the RF field. We obtain the result that the modulation index 2phim of the PM is the key parameter that essentially controls the conditions of the TQ resonance and the narrowing effect. Under the exact TQ resonance, the ratio of the TQ resonance frequency to the Larmor frequency of the RF field depends only on phim, and the secular part of the magnetic dipole Hamiltonian of a like spin system in the triply rotating frame disappears at a particular value of phim. The condition is different from that of the well-known magic angle condition.     

NMR parameter contrast in abundant-spin images of solids

Solid state nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI) techniques have been steadily improving over the years. Today high-resolution images of rigid solids are now accomplished by many different means. For abundant nuclei, the combination of multiple-pulse line narrowing and pulsed field gradients have greatly improved both the resolution and sensitivity of the imaging experiment, but often at the expense of the chemical information in the material. In this paper we discuss means of incorporating NMR parameters in the imaging experiment to generate image contrast which provides information about local variations in the chemistry of the material.     

Line profile study from diode laser spectroscopy in the CH4 2ν3 band perturbed by N2, O2, Ar, and He

We present a line profile study for two lines in the 2ν₃ band of CH₄ recorded with a frequency stabilized tunable diode laser spectrometer. The broadening and narrowing (Dicke effect) parameters of the R(0) line perturbed by N₂, O₂, and He are derived from a simultaneous fitting of spectra at pressures from 20 to 300 Torr by using the soft and hard collision models. These parameters are determined for the A and F components of the unresolved R(3) manifold perturbed by N₂, Ar, and He from the line profile analysis of spectra at pressures between 50 and 500 Torr. The line mixing effect between the two F components is also taken into account and the absorber speed dependent effect on broadening is estimated for N₂ and Ar.     

Multispectrum fits for line mixing in the ν3 band Q branch of methane

First-order line-mixing coefficients and model relaxation matrix element scaling factors have been obtained for allowed transitions in the ν₃ band Q branch of CH₄ broadened by H₂, He, N₂, O₂, Ar, and CH₄. The broadening, shifting, Dicke-narrowing, and line-mixing parameters are determined by simultaneous least-squares fitting of spectra at pressures from 0.014 to 66.66 kPa recorded with a high-resolution difference-frequency laser. These results confirm, improve, and extend a previous analysis of the lower pressure (?13.3 kPa) data [A.S. Pine, J. Chem. Phys. 97 (1992) 773] which yielded averaged coefficients of individually fit spectra where adjacent broadened lines are still partially resolved.     

On the use of steady-state signal equations for 2D TrueFISP imaging

To explain the signal behavior in 2D-TrueFISP imaging, a slice excitation profile should be considered that describes a variation of effective flip angles and magnetization phases after excitation. These parameters can be incorporated into steady-state equations to predict the final signal within a pixel. The use of steady-state equations assumes that excitation occurs instantaneously, although in reality this is a nonlinear process. In addition, often the flip angle variation within the slice excitation profile is solely considered when using steady-state equations, while TrueFISP is especially known for its sensitivity to phase variations. The purpose of this study was therefore to evaluate the precision of steady-state equations in calculating signal intensities in 2D TrueFISP imaging. To that end, steady-state slice profiles and corresponding signal intensities were calculated as function of flip angle, RF phase advance and pulse shape. More complex Bloch simulations were considered as a gold standard, which described every excitation within the sequence until steady state was reached. They were used to analyze two different methods based on steady-state equations. In addition, measurements on phantoms were done with corresponding imaging parameters. Although the Bloch simulations described the steady-state slice profile formation better than methods based on steady-state equations, the latter performed well in predicting the steady-state signal resulting from it. In certain cases the phase variation within the slice excitation profile did not even have to be taken into account.     

Self-broadened CO line shapes in the v=2←0 band

Precise intensities, self-broadenings and shifts have been obtained for the ¹²C¹⁶O v=2←0 band from simultaneous fits of low-noise, high-resolution Fourier-transform spectra at pressures from 27 to 80 kPa (200-600 Torr). Observed line shapes exhibit deviations on the order of 1% from the conventional Voigt profile, primarily due to speed-dependent broadening and secondarily to line mixing. Dicke narrowing is reduced by over an order-of-magnitude from the diffusion value, presumably because of correlations between velocity- and phase-changing collisions.     

Calculated T1 images derived from a partial saturation-inversion recovery pulse sequence with adiabatic fast passage

Calculated T1 images of the head and abdomen have been obtained using an alternating partial saturation-inversion recovery pulse sequence. Timing parameters were adjusted to yield optimum T1 contrast-to-noise ratio for this sequence for the range of T1 studied. Adiabatic fast passage (AFP) was implemented for the nonselective inverting pulse, to reduce the sensitivity of the measurement to RF and static field inhomogeneity. A nonlinear frequency sweep was used to improve the efficiency of the AFP pulse. The effect on the T1 calculation of slice selection during the pi/2 pulses was also determined and corrected for in the image reconstruction algorithm. The T1's determined by this method show a standard deviation of less than 10%, and good agreement with the literature.     

Line narrowing beyond natural linewidth in radiation matter interaction

A review of the various linear and nonlinear methods used to obtain resolution beyond natural linewidth is given. Based on the lecture given at the International Symposium on Theoretical Physics, Bangalore, November 1984.     

Half-width temperature dependence of nitrogen broadened lines in the ν2 band of H2O

Forty-seven N₂ broadened water vapor line-widths have been measured in the 1845-2140 cm⁻¹ spectral range with a Fourier Transform spectrometer in the 258-330 K temperature range at a spectral resolution of 0.005 cm⁻¹ for the lines with upper state rotational quantum number up to 16. The measured exponents of the temperature dependence of the width exhibit a large range of values from 1.60 to −0.86. Theoretical calculations were made using a semi-empirical technique based on the Anderson theory. The calculated broadening coefficients as well as the temperature exponents for the half-width agree satisfactory with measured values.     

Pulse error compensating symmetric magic-echo trains

We present improved line-narrowing sequences for dipolar coupled spin systems, based on a train of magic-echoes which are compensated for the effects of finite pulse widths and utilize symmetry properties of supercycles. Sequences are introduced for spectroscopy and imaging by proper choice of a phase alternating scheme. Using a 16 pulse time-suspension magic-echo cycle, the highest level of line-narrowing achieved was 2.7 Hz for the [100] direction of a single crystal of calcium fluoride, a reduction in linewidth by 4 orders of magnitude.     

Narrowing broadening and shifting parameters for R(2) and P(14) lines in the HCl fundamental band perturbed by N2 and rare gases from tunable diode laser spectroscopy

High resolution measurements of room temperature absorption with a controlled tunable diode laser (TDL) spectrometer have been made for R(2) and P(14) lines in the HCl fundamental band perturbed by N₂, Xe, Ar and He at pressures lower than one atmosphere. Pressure broadening, shift and collisional narrowing parameters have been extracted by least-squares fitting of several collisional profiles to the spectra. Asymmetries are observed for P(14) broadened by Xe at the lowest pressures and attributed to correlations between velocity- and phase-changing collisions.     

Self- and foreign-gas-broadened lineshapes in the ν1 band of NH3

Precise N₂, O₂, H₂, Ar, He, and self-broadenings and shifts have been obtained for Q- and R-branch transitions in the ν₁ fundamental band of ammonia from simultaneous fits of low-noise, high-resolution difference-frequency laser spectra at pressures from 0.07 to 27 kPa (0.5-200 Torr). Observed lineshapes exhibit significant deviations from the conventional Voigt profile, which may be attributed to Dicke narrowing and/or speed-dependent broadening. At the higher pressures, line mixing is evident and must be included in the fits. For self-broadening, line mixing is dominated by collisional tunneling transitions, whereas for the non-polar buffers, rotational relaxation among selected K states is the primary mixing mechanism.     

Spectral parameters for quantitative mobility contrast in NMR imaging of solid polymers

Different procedures based on parameters of the wideline NMR absorption spectrum are presented to obtain localized molecular mobility contrast for imaging of solid polymers. For this purpose a ¹H-NMR imaging technique with magic sandwich echoes is used for acquiring localized wideline spectra. With samples composed of polystyrene and high impact strength polystyrene, and polycarbonate and low density polyethylene a spatial difference in NMR absorption spectrum lineshape and linewidth is displayed. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of rigid and mobile domains in a heterogeneous polymer can be derived from the NMR spectral components. It is demonstrated that a van Vleck moment analysis can be performed from spatially resolved magic echo decays. The second (M₂) and fourth (M₄) moments of the rigid components show considerable variation with the spatial composition of the investigated samples.     

结合导航回波与压缩感知进行运动伪影矫正

在一定幅度范围内,导航回波可有效追踪刚体运动,用于矫正k空间数据,从而降低运动伪影对图像质量的影响．然而导航回波技术无法很好地矫正大幅度运动以及非刚体运动导致的图像伪影,运动时刻采集到的k空间数据只能舍弃．压缩感知通过非线性规划法,对欠采样数据进行重建,能恢复出原始信号．该文采用伪随机的方式进行数据采集,结合导航回波技术,用压缩感知对未受运动影响的数据进行图像重建,从而减少运动伪影对图像的干扰．该研究为运动伪影的矫正提供了一种新思路．     

Effective and accurate single-shot NMR diffusion experiments based on magnetization grating

Current single-shot diffusion methods based on magnetization gratings suffer from low sensitivity due to small rf tip angles and, consequently, from inefficient use of the total equilibrium magnetization. Here, we propose and illustrate the use of a slightly modified form of the magnetization encoding scheme OUFIS for single-shot diffusion experiments. In a detailed theoretical and experimental analysis, we compare the performance of the proposed method to other encoding schemes such as the one-phase or two-phase DANTE and conclude that the OUFIS-based experiment is a superior one. The primary reason is that this scheme allows one to use a larger total pulse area. Hence, one can encode a far larger portion of the initial magnetization into a frequency grating before the onset of various nonlinear effects. In the experimental illustration, we present a single-shot measurement of multicomponent diffusion.     

颅脑梯度回波成像:呼吸伪影和导航回波矫正

梯度回波序列是磁共振成像中常用的脉冲序列,然而梯度回波对主磁场波动非常敏感,呼吸等生理运动引起的信号波动会导致图像伪影.该文报道了采用导航回波技术获取呼吸运动导致的局部磁场波动,用以矫正图像回波中随时间变化的相位波动,并将该技术应用于三维多回波梯度回波成像和T2*定量图研究.研究结果显示:矫正前,相位波动幅度随回波时间增长而增大,模图和T2*定量图在相位编码方向有明显伪影,并且男女呼吸伪影水平有显著性差异;矫正后,相位波动幅度大幅下降,图像伪影水平有显著性下降.     

Proton NMR studies of the NaAlH4 structure

Advanced nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques were applied to study the local environments of hydrogen in NaAlH₄. Through a combined application of the magic echo (ME) and the magic Hahn echo (MHE) sequences the hetero- and homonuclear contributions to the dipolar second moment (M₂) were determined separately. The obtained values are compared with the second moments calculated by the van Vleck formulae, using structural data determined by neutron scattering on NaAlD₄. This comparison indicates structural differences between NaAlH₄ and NaAlD₄. A model is suggested for the orientation of the [AlH₄]⁻ tetrahedra in NaAlH₄, for which the calculated second moments are in good agreement with the experimentally observed values.