RASEE: a rapid spin-echo pulse sequence

Most fast-imaging sequences use gradient echoes and a low flip-angle excitation. The low flip angle is used because it gives increased signal when TR less than T1. However, spin-echo sequences are less productive of certain artifacts, among them flow and magnetic susceptibility artifacts. We present a modification of the spin-echo pulse sequence designed to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio for repetition times (TR) less than 100 msec while preserving good image quality. Our implementation performs a 128 x 128 image in under 7 sec (TR = 50 msec) and has been used to follow the dynamics of Gd-DTPA in the rat kidneys.     

Radio frequency pulse shaping system using a switchable cavity

An analysis is made of an rf pulse shaping system containing a storage cavity and an extraction system which can be switched from antiresonant to resonant operation. Relations are given for the pulse shape, gain, and efficiency. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 67, 139–141 (November 1997)     

Radio frequency magnetic field effects on electron-hole recombination

We present measurements of the spectrum (1--80 MHz) of the effect of a weak (approximately 500 microT) radio frequency magnetic field on the electron-hole recombination of radical ion pairs in solution. Distinct spectra are observed for the pyrene anion/dimethylaniline cation radical pair in which one or both of the radicals are perdeuterated. The radical pair mechanism is developed theoretically and shown to account satisfactorily for both the magnetic field effect and the associated magnetic isotope effect.     

Measurements of restricted diffusion using an oscillating gradient spin-echo sequence

An oscillating gradient spin-echo (OGSE) pulse sequence was used to measure the apparent diffusion coefficient (D(app)) of water in the short diffusion time regime in the presence of restrictions. The diffusion coefficients of water in a simple water sample and a water and oil mixture were measured to be the same for different periods of the gradient oscillation, as expected when there are no restriction effects. The D(app) of water in the spaces between closely packed beads was also measured as a function of the gradient oscillation periods in the range 11 to 80 ms. The D(app) of water in restricted systems varies with the period of the gradient oscillation and the dispersion depends on the scale of the restriction. For a sample of packed beads of diameter 9.1 +/- 0.7 microm, the pore surface-to-volume ratio was estimated experimentally by this method to be 1.3 +/- 0.1 microm(-1), corresponding to a mean pore diameter of 6.4 +/- 0.7 microm. A Monte Carlo computer simulation of the NMR OGSE signal from the spins diffusing in a system of compartments was also implemented and the D(app) demonstrated similar behavior with gradient oscillation periods.     

Determination of water self-diffusion coefficient in complex food products by low field 1H PFG-NMR: comparison between the standard spin-echo sequence and the T1-weighted spin-echo sequence

In 1990, Van Den Enden et al. proposed a method for the determination of water droplet size distributions in emulsions using a pulsed-field-gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG-NMR) T1-weighted stimulated-echo technique. This paper describes both the T1-weighted spin-echo sequence, an improved method based on this earlier work, and, the standard PFG spin-echo sequence. These two methods were compared for water self-diffusion coefficient measurement in the fatty protein concentrate sample used as a 'cheese model.' The transversal and longitudinal relaxation parameters T1 and T2 were determined according to the temperature and investigated for each sample; fat-free protein concentrate sample, pure anhydrous milk fat, and fatty protein concentrate sample. The water self-diffusion in fat-free protein concentrate samples followed a linear behavior. Consequently, the water self-diffusion coefficient could be easily characterized for fat-free protein concentrate samples. However, it seemed more complicated to obtain accurate water self-diffusion in fatty protein concentrate samples since the diffusion-attenuation data were fitted by a bi-exponential function. This paper demonstrates that the implementation of the T1-weighted spin-echo sequence, using the different T1 properties of water and fat phases, allows the accurate determination of water self-diffusion coefficient in a food product. To minimize the contribution of the 1H nuclei in the fat phase on the NMR echo signal, the fat protons were selectively eliminated by an additional 180 degrees pulse. This new method reduces the standard errors of diffusion data obtained with a basic spin-echo technique, by a factor of 10. The effectiveness of the use of the T1-weighted spin-echo sequence to perform accurate water self-diffusion coefficients measurement in fatty products is thus demonstrated.     

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography using a free-breathing T2-weighted turbo spin-echo sequence with navigator-triggered prospective acquisition correction

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the image quality of a respiratory-triggered T2-weighted (T2w) turbo spin-echo (TSE) sequence for magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) using a new method for respiratory triggering by tracking the motion of the right diaphragm [prospective acquisition correction (PACE) technique]. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients underwent MRCP imaging applying breath-hold half-Fourier single-shot TSE sequences and the respiratory-triggered T2w TSE sequence. Qualitative evaluation grading the depiction of eight segments of the pancreaticobiliary tree and the frequency of artifacts was performed. Quantitative evaluation included calculation of the relative contrast (RC) between fluid-filled ductal structures and organ parenchyma at four segments. RESULTS: A significantly higher (P<.01) RC was measured for the respiratory-triggered T2w TSE sequence [maximum intensity projection (MIP)] for all of the four investigated segments (one of four segments for the MIP) of the pancreaticobiliary tree, as well as a significant (P<.01) improvement of visualization of all ductal segments compared with the breath-hold sequences. The frequency of artifacts was significantly lower (P<.01) compared with the breath-hold sequences. CONCLUSION: Respiratory-triggered MRCP using a T2w TSE sequence with PACE significantly improves image quality and may be included into the routine MRCP sequence protocol.     

Iterative retrieval of one-dimensional x ray wave field using a single intensity measurement

The problem of retrieving a complex function from the modulus of its Fourier transform has non-unique solutions in one dimension. Therefore iterative phase retrieval methods cannot in general be confidently applied to one-dimensional problems, due to the presence of ambiguities. We present a method for a posteriori reduction of the ambiguities based on the correlation analysis of the solution of a large number of runs of an iterative phase retrieval algorithm with different random starting phases. The method is applied to experimentally measured diffraction patterns from an x ray waveguide illuminated by hard x rays. We demonstrate the possibility of retrieving the complex wave field at the exit face of the waveguide and compare the result with theoretical prediction.     

3D fast flair: a CSF-nulled 3D fast spin-echo pulse sequence

Since its introduction, the fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequence has found many applications in the central nervous system (CNS), because of its heavy T₂ weighting and excellent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) suppression. More recently fast spin-echo based variants have been developed that greatly reduce scan time; such sequences are often referred to as “fast FLAIR.” We present what we believe to be the first implementation of FLAIR using a three dimensional (3D) fast spin-echo-based pulse sequence, which combines the cerebrospinal fluid suppression and good lesion contrast of two-dimensional fast FLAIR with the advantages of a three-dimensional sequence such as higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) per unit time, thinner slices (giving reduced partial volume effect) and the ability to reformat the data in an arbitrary plane.     

MRI of liver tumors using gadolinium-DOTA: prospective study comparing spin-echo long TR-te sequence and CT

Thirty-nine patients with liver tumors were examined using MRI at 0.5 T before and after intravenous bolus injection of either 0.1 mmol/kg (n = 18) or 0.2 mmol/kg (n = 21) of Gadolinium-Dota, using spin-echo T1-and T2-weighted sequences before injections and spin-echo or gradient-echo sequences after injection. When contrast-to-noise (C/N) data were normalized relative to time, optimal mean C/N was observed after gadolinium injection. However, subjective study and case-by-case C/N measurement showed better contrast for SE 2000/60 and CT with injection in 62% and 42% of cases, respectively.     

Assessment by MRI of local porosity in dough during proving. theoretical considerations and experimental validation using a spin-echo sequence

Proving is a key stage in the development of the final structure of bread, as invasive measurements may provoke dough collapse. Therefore, better understanding and better control of the nucleation and the growth of bubbles require the development of non-invasive methods of measurement. In the present work, a non-invasive method is presented for the measurement of local dough porosity from MR image analysis. For this, a direct relation between the gray level of a voxel and its gas fraction was established in the absence of heat and mass transfer. At whole dough scale for a one-dimensional expansion, the porosity estimated from the gray level was compared with the porosity estimated from total dough volume measurements in a range of [0.10, 0.74 m(3) of gas/m(3) of dough]. For short proving times (<30 min), MR image analysis underestimated porosity by a maximum of 0.03 m(3) of gas/m(3) of dough, but otherwise the difference between the two means of measurement was within the standard error of total dough measurements (+/-0.01 m(3) of gas/m(3) of dough). Maps of local porosity in dough during proving are also presented and discussed.     

利用电光强度调制器频移特性实现可调延迟

针对光纤通信系统中数据同步处理时对脉冲可调延迟的要求,提出了一种可调延迟器的结构设计方案。对电光强度调制器(EOIM)的光频移特性进行了研究,基于EOIM对各级边带和强度的调制作用,利用EOIM对受激布里渊散射慢光装置中的泵浦光进行强度调节,从而实现延迟量可调。建立了可调延迟的数学模型,通过实验研究分别得出了在一定微波调制功率下EOIM调制深度和直流偏置电压随脉冲延迟量的变化关系。从实验结果中可以看出：在引起失真的主要因素为零的情况下,当直流偏置电压为半波电压的1/2时,脉冲相对群延迟随调制深度的增大逐渐减小;当调制深度为1.39时,脉冲相对群延迟随直流偏置电压的增大逐渐增大,延迟量最大可达到未调制情况下的1.106倍,实现了较大范围的延迟量调节。     

利用电光强度调制器频移特性实现可调延迟

针对光纤通信系统中数据同步处理时对脉冲可调延迟的要求,提出了一种可调延迟器的结构设计方案。对电光强度调制器(EOIM)的光频移特性进行了研究,基于EOIM对各级边带和强度的调制作用,利用EOIM对受激布里渊散射慢光装置中的泵浦光进行强度调节,从而实现延迟量可调。建立了可调延迟的数学模型,通过实验研究分别得出了在一定微波调制功率下EOIM调制深度和直流偏置电压随脉冲延迟量的变化关系。从实验结果中可以看出:在引起失真的主要因素为零的情况下,当直流偏置电压为半波电压的1/2时,脉冲相对群延迟随调制深度的增大逐渐减小;当调制深度为1.39时,脉冲相对群延迟随直流偏置电压的增大逐渐增大,延迟量最大可达到未调制情况下的1.106倍,实现了较大范围的延迟量调节。     

Precise measurement of a weak radio frequency electric field using a resonant atomic probe

We present a precise measurement of a weak radio frequency electric field with a frequency of ■3 GHz employing a resonant atomic probe that is constituted with a Rydberg cascade three-level atom, including a cesium ground state |6S(1/2)〉,an excited state |6P(3/2)〉, and Rydberg state |nD(5/2)〉. Two radio frequency(RF) electric fields, noted as local and signal fields, couple the nearby Rydberg transition. The two-photon resonant Rydberg electromagnetically induced transparency(Rydberg-EIT) is employed to directly read out the weak signal field having hundreds of k Hz difference between the local and signal fields that is encoded in the resonant microwave-dressed Rydberg atoms. The minimum detectable signal fields of ESmin= 1.36 ± 0.04 mV/m for 2.18 GHz coupling |68D(5/2)〉→ |69P(3/2)〉 transition and 1.33 ± 0.02 mV/m for 1.32 GHz coupling |80D(5/2)〉→ |81P(3/2)〉 transition are obtained, respectively. The bandwidth dependence is also investigated by varying the signal field frequency and corresponding -3 dB bandwidth of 3 MHz is attained. This method can be employed to perform a rapid and precise measurement of the weak electric field, which is important for the atom-based microwave metrology.     

Ultrasonic inspection of composite hydrogen reservoirs using frequency diversity techniques

The use of the signal processing techniques based on the principle of quasi-frequency diversity can be a suitable solution for the ultrasonic inspection of liquid hydrogen tanks manufactured out of composite materials. Nevertheless, the algorithms developed up to now suffer from limitations that restrict their large-scale use. The split-spectrum processing requires preliminary adjustments that are not always accessible to the user, while the cut-spectrum processing is not sensitive enough to eliminate the noise. We have thus developed an interesting alternative to these two filters. Based on the use of progressive low-pass filters, this algorithm, called low-spectrum processing, takes into account the physical characteristics of the ultrasonic wave propagation in a composite material. Its use in the inspection of tanks made in composites showed better performances.