Investigation of laminar appearance of articular cartilage by means of magnetic resonance microscopy

Magnetic resonance (MR) images and relaxation and diffusion maps of articular cartilage were obtained to explain discrepancies in its MR appearance. Porcine specimens were studied only by MR microscopy. For human specimens a combination of MR microscopy and large-scale MR imaging was used. Common features in the laminar structures of human and porcine samples are described. It was found that the decay of transverse magnetization was nonexponential with a rapidly decaying component which prevented construction of reliable proton-density maps. Dependence of T₂ values on the orientation of specimens in the magnetic field as well as magnetization transfer experiments supported the previous suggestions about a significant role of dipolar interaction with protons of collagen in the laminar appearance of articular cartilage. The loss of the laminar structure induced by rotation of the human cartilage specimen around the axis normal to its surface demonstrated nonuniform angular distribution of the collagen fibers within the layer.     

Memory and aging effects in antiferromagnetic nanoparticles

We investigate slow dynamics of collection of a few noninteracting antiferromagnetic NiO nanoparticles. Our purpose is to enquire the role of size-dependent magnetization fluctuations in temperature and time dependent properties of antiferromagnetic nanoparticles. The zero-field cooled magnetization exhibits size dependent fluctuations. We find memory effects in field cooled magnetization, as well as aging effects in thermoremenant magnetization of antiferromagnetic nanoparticles. The antiferromagnetic nanoparticles show a stronger memory effect than the corresponding effect in the ferromagnetic particles, when the distribution of particles include very small sizes. The situation reverses for bigger sizes. The relaxation of the magnetization after a sudden cooling, heating and removal of fields reiterate the memory effects. We also see a weak signature of size-dependent magnetization fluctuations in aging effect of antiferromagnetic nanoparticles. We find a two-step relaxation of thermoremenant magnetization in antiferromagnetic case, which differs qualitatively from relaxation of ferromagnetic nanoparticles.     

Dynamics of paramagnetic agents by off-resonance rotating frame technique in the presence of magnetization transfer effect

The simple method for measuring the rotational correlation time of paramagnetic ion chelates via off-resonance rotating frame technique is challenged in vivo by the magnetization transfer effect. A theoretical model for the spin relaxation of water protons in the presence of paramagnetic ion chelates and magnetization transfer effect is described. This model considers the competitive relaxations of water protons by the paramagnetic relaxation pathway and the magnetization transfer pathway. The influence of magnetization transfer on the total residual z-magnetization has been quantitatively evaluated in the context of the magnetization map and various difference magnetization profiles for the macromolecule conjugated Gd-DTPA in cross-linked protein gels. The numerical simulations and experimental validations confirm that the rotational correlation time for the paramagnetic ion chelates can be measured even in the presence of strong magnetization transfer. This spin relaxation model also provides novel approaches to enhance the detection sensitivity for paramagnetic labeling by suppressing the spin relaxations caused by the magnetization transfer. The inclusion of the magnetization transfer effect allows us to use the magnetization map as a simulation tool to design efficient paramagnetic labeling targeting at specific tissues, to design experiments running at low RF power depositions, and to optimize the sensitivity for detecting paramagnetic labeling. Thus, the presented method will be a very useful tool for the in vivo applications such as molecular imaging via paramagnetic labeling.     

The flipped longitudinal polarization sequence

By flipping the longitudinal magnetization with a chain of 180° pulses it is possible to effectively restore the effects of relaxation so that the same longitudinal magnetization is periodically recovered. The pulse sequence for achieving this, called Flipped LOngitudinal Polarization (FLOP), can be incorporated into any pulse sequence whenever it is desired to stop the attenuation in longitudinal magnetization caused by relaxation. We illustrate its use for fast, single-shot measurements of the longitudinal relaxation time and for three-dimensional T₁ mapping.     

Generalized equation for describing the magnetization in spoiled gradient-echo imaging

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate a generalized equation for describing the magnetization in spoiled gradient-echo (SPGR) imaging in which the in-pulse relaxation and magnetization transfer (MT) effects are taken into account. First, the time-dependent Bloch equations for the two-pool exchange model with MT effect were reduced to an inhomogeneous linear differential equation, and then a simple equation was derived to solve it using a matrix operation. Second, the equations describing the magnetization before and after the radiofrequency (RF) pulse were derived based on the above solution for the RF-pulse excitation and evolution phases. Finally, a generalized equation describing the steady-state magnetization was derived. The validity of this equation was investigated by comparing with the transverse magnetization obtained by the regular Ernst equation and analytical solution in which the in-pulse transverse relaxation is considered. When the same assumption was made in our method, there were good agreements between them, indicating the validity of our method. The in-pulse transverse and longitudinal relaxations decreased the transverse magnetization compared to the case in which these effects were neglected, whereas MT increased it. In conclusion, we derived a generalized equation for describing the magnetization in SPGR imaging. This equation will provide a suitable basis for understanding the signal intensity in SPGR imaging and/or T₁ measurement using an SPGR sequence in cases in which the effect of in-pulse relaxation and/or MT cannot be neglected.     

Analysis of longitudinal relaxation rate constants from magnetization transfer MR images of human tissues at 0.1 T.

The human calf muscle was examined by using the magnetization transfer MR imaging technique. The time-dependent saturation transfer (TDST) method was applied at low magnetic field 0.1 T in order to measure the mobile water relaxation time T1w, the magnetization transfer rate Rwm from water to solid macromolecules, and the magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) of the human tissue. The magnetization transfer contrast of 0.67 was attained. The transfer rate Rwm was 4.5 sec-1 (+/- 0.3 sec-1) for the anterior tibial muscle and 5.0 sec-1 (+/- 0.4 sec-1) for the gastrocnemius muscles. The values of Rwm are considerably larger than the values of corresponding relaxation rates measured at high fields. The relaxation rate measurements of human tissues in vivo was shown to be possible at 0.1 T even within the framework of normal routine MR imaging. Magnetization transfer MR imaging is a very promising and practical method in order to assess the relaxation processes in heterogeneous human tissues in vivo, and it can improve the tissue characterization possibilities of MR imaging techniques.     

Specific features of proton NMR relaxation of hydrocarbons and water in the pore space of silicates

The relaxation of the proton magnetization of water and hydrocarbons in a model medium of glass beads and quartz sand is studied by the NMR method. The spectrum of relaxation times of fluids is one-component in the model environment and three-component in quartz sand. The surface relaxivities measured in the model medium are used to determine the pore size distribution in quartz sand. Estimates of the specific surface area of sand based on the relaxation data are consistent with the values measured by the sorption method. The EPR method is used to determine the chemical nature of the active paramagnetic centers responsible for the surface relaxation of the proton magnetization. Differences in the relaxation behavior of aqueous and hydrocarbon fluids are interpreted within the framework of a simple model of surface relaxation.     

NQR Spin Diffusion in an Inhomogeneous Internal Field

The theory of NQR spin diffusion is extended to the case of spin lattice relaxation and spin diffusion in an inhomogeneous field. Two coupled equations describing the mutual relaxation and the spin diffusion of the nuclear magnetization and dipolar energy were obtained by using the method of nonequilibrium state operator. The equations were solved for short and long times approximation corresponding to the direct and diffusion relaxation regimes.     

Competition between domain walls and the reverse magnetization in the magnetic relaxation of a Pt/Co/Ir/Co/Pt spin switcher

A multilayer Pt/Co/Ir/Co/Pt/GaAs heterostructures demonstrates a long term (to several hours) magnetic relaxation between two stable states of the magnetization of the system. The magnetization reversal of the heterostructure layers occurs both due to the formation of nuclei of the reverse magnetization domains and as a result of their further growth by means of motion of domain walls. The competition between two these processes provides a nonexponential character of the magnetic relaxation. At 300 K, the contributions of these processes to the relaxation are commensurable, while, at temperatures lower than 200 K, the contribution of the nucleation is suppressed and the magnetic relaxation occurs as a result of motion of the domain walls.     

Influence of relaxation phenomena in dynamic magnetization processes on magnetic power losses of non-oriented electrical steel sheets

We have reported that the magnetic power losses per magnetizing cycle change with the magnetization pausing time in a constant rate of magnetization change and some relaxation phenomena exist in the magnetization pausing period. We discuss the influence of the relaxation phenomena on the dynamic magnetic power losses and suggest that the relaxation phenomena seems to be causes of the frequency dependence of the magnetic losses and of the variation of losses that cannot be expressed only by magnetization speed dependence of losses.     

Temperature dependence of nuclear magnetization and relaxation

The temperature dependences of nuclear magnetization and relaxation rates are reviewed theoretically and experimentally in order to quantify the effects of temperature on NMR signals acquired by common imaging techniques. Using common sequences, the temperature dependences of the equilibrium nuclear magnetization and relaxation times must each be considered to fully understand the effects of temperature on NMR images. The temperature dependence of the equilibrium nuclear magnetization is negative because of Boltzmann's distribution for all substances at all temperatures, but the combined temperature dependences of the equilibrium magnetization and relaxation can be negative, weak or positive depending on the temperature (T), echo time (T(E)), repetition time (T(R)), and the temperature dependences of the relaxation times T(1)(T) and T(2)(T) in a pulse sequence. As a result, the magnitude of the NMR signal from a given substance can decrease, increase or stay somewhat constant with increasing temperature. Nuclear thermal coefficients are defined and predictions for spin echo and other simple sequences are verified experimentally using a number of substances representing various thermal and NMR properties.     

Anomalous magnetic relaxation in thin Pd<Subscript>0.99</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>0.01</Subscript> films

The magnetic relaxation in Pd_0.99Fe_0.01 films, which have the thicknesses that are practically important for cryoelectronics (25 and 40 nm), is detected and experimentally studied. The relaxation is shown to be substantial only in thin films. The magnetization relaxation is found to be well described by the sum of two exponential functions with characteristic times that differ by an order of magnitude from each other. The characteristic relaxation time and the ratio of the contributions of two relaxations depend on temperature. The activation energies of the relaxation processes are determined. The activation volume is shown to correspond to a 20-nm ferromagnetic cluster. The results obtained agree with the model of two-component magnetization in thin PdFe films [6].     

Magnetization dynamics of molecular magnets in a circular polarized electromagnetic wave of millimeter range

The appearance of magnetization in a crystal of molecular magnets under the action of a circular polarized electromagnetic wave of millimeter range is considered. The time dependence of magnetization is obtained for the case of resonance and for approximation of the single relaxation time.     

Electric manipulation of spin relaxation using the spin Hall effect

Using the spin Hall effect, magnetization relaxation in a Ni_{81}Fe_{19}/Pt film is manipulated electrically. An electric current applied to the Pt layer exerts spin torque on the entire magnetization of the Ni81Fe19 layer via the macroscopic spin transfer induced by the spin Hall effect and modulates the magnetization relaxation in the Ni81Fe19 layer. This method allows us to tune the magnetization dynamics regardless of the film size without applying electric currents directly to the magnetic layer.     

Effect of a dc magnetic field on the magnetization relaxation of uniaxial single-domain ferromagnetic particles driven by a strong ac magnetic field

The nonlinear ac stationary response of the magnetization of noninteracting uniaxial single-domain ferromagnetic particles acted on by superimposed dc and ac magnetic fields applied along the anisotropy axis is evaluated from the Fokker-Planck equation, expressed as an infinite hierarchy of recurrence equations for Fourier components of the relaxation functions governing longitudinal relaxation of the magnetization. The exact solution of this hierarchy comprises a matrix continued fraction, allowing one to evaluate the ac nonlinear response and reversal time of the magnetization. For weak ac fields, the results agree with perturbation theory. It is shown that the dc bias field changes substantially the magnetization dynamics leading to new nonlinear effects. In particular, it is demonstrated that for a nonzero bias field as the magnitude of the ac field increases the reversal time first increases and having attained its maximum at some critical value of the ac field, decreases exponentially.     

Magnetic relaxation in a random system of interacting rodlike nanoparticles

It is shown in the framework of the generalized mean-field approximation taking into account spatial fluctuations of the local magnetic field that the collective effect of dipole interaction in a random 3D system of identical (rodlike) magnetic nanoparticles with parallel easy magnetization axes shifts the relaxation magnetization curves towards shorter times (i.e., accelerates the relaxation process). In addition, the course of this process depends (via the demagnetizing field) on the sample shape. The interaction between nanograins affects the magnetization relaxation of a random 2D system only when the magnetic moments of the grains are perpendicular to the plane of the system.     

CPMG relaxation by diffusion with constant magnetic field gradient in a restricted geometry: numerical simulation and application

Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) measurements are the primary nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique used for evaluating formation properties and reservoir fluid properties in the well logging industry and laboratory sample analysis. The estimation of bulk volume irreducible (BVI), permeability, and fluid type relies on the accurate interpretation of the spin-spin relaxation time (T(2)) distribution. The interpretation is complicated when spin's self-diffusion in an inhomogeneous field and restricted geometry becomes dominant. The combined effects of field gradient, diffusion, and a restricted geometry are not easily evaluated analytically. We used a numerical method to evaluate the dependence of the free and restricted diffusion on the system parameters in the absence of surface relaxation, which usually can be neglected for the non-wetting fluids (e.g., oil or gas). The parameter space that defines the relaxation process is reduced to two dimensionless groups: D* and tau*. Three relaxation regimes: free diffusion, localization, and motionally averaging regimes are identified in the (log(10)D*, log(10)tau*) domain. The hypothesis that the normalized magnetization, M*, relaxes as a single exponential with a constant dimensionless relaxation time T*(2) is justified for most regions of the parameter space. The numerical simulation results are compared with the analytical solutions from the contour plots of T*(2). The locations of the boundaries between different relaxation regimes, derived from equalizing length scales, are challenged by observed discrepancies between numerical and analytical solutions. After adjustment of boundaries by equalizing T*(2), numerical simulation result and analytical solution match each other for every relaxation regime. The parameters, fluid diffusivity and pore length, can be estimated from analytical solutions in the free diffusion and motionally averaging regimes, respectively. Estimation of the parameters near the boundaries of the regimes may require numerical simulation.     

Encoding to the longitudinal magnetization for MR imaging and flow velocity mapping

Phase-encoding to the longitudinal magnetization is implemented by adding encoding gradient pulses in the evolution period tau of the NMR pulse sequence 90 degrees+x-tau-90 degrees-x. This work focuses on the effect of the spin-lattice relaxation and its removal and on the constraint that the 90 degrees-x pulse can only transform the phase of the transverse magnetization partially to the longitudinal magnetization. Theoretical analysis shows that the encoded phase information and the spin-lattice relaxation effect are separable and the latter is identical in each repetition in collecting phase-encoding data. Thus the relaxation effect can be eliminated by subtracting a second data set whose phase information is inverted or by alternating the polarity of the relaxation contribution. From data with partial phase information, Fourier-transform image reconstruction results in mirror aliasing in which the two halves of the Fourier spectrum of positive and negative coordinates overlap. Removal of mirror aliasing requires imaging data of the orthogonal component. Nevertheless mirror aliasing is not necessarily a problem, depending on the subject of study. Phase-encoding to the longitudinal magnetization for spatial MRI and flow velocity mapping are demonstrated using the rotating ultra-fast imaging sequence (RUFIS).     

具有表面弛豫的液体自扩散的Monte Carlo模拟

研究多孔介质中液体的自扩散行为能获得介质的微观结构信息,有助于了解介质中液体的传输性质.以具有不同孔隙大小的无限长圆柱体模型中的液体为对象,采用Monte Carlo随机行走方法,模拟存在表面弛豫时液体的自扩散系数和核自旋磁化强度随时间的变化,导出将NMR弛豫参数和随机行走参数联系在一起的表达式.结果表明:在快扩散区,液体的核自旋磁化强度随弛豫时间呈单指数衰减,且自扩散系数在短时情况下独立于表面弛豫率;在慢扩散区,液体的核自旋磁化强度衰减和自扩散系数在短时情况下均与表面弛豫率无关.模拟结果与理论分析相吻合,可用于求解介质的表面积与体积之比及孔径大小等结构信息.     

Decay of dipolar order in diamagnetic and paramagnetic proteins and protein gels

Magnetic relaxation in solids may be complicated by the creation and loss of dipolar order at finite rates. In tissues the molecular and spin dynamics may be significantly different because of the relatively high concentration of water. We have applied a modified Jeneer-Broekaert pulse sequence to measure dipolar relaxation rates in both dry and hydrated protein systems that may serve as magnetic models for tissue. In lyophilized and dry serum albumin, the dipolar relaxation time, T(1D) is on the order of 1 ms and is consistent with earlier reports. When hydrated by deuterium oxide, the dipolar relaxation times measured were on the order of tens of microseconds. When paramagnetic centers are included in the protein, the Jeneer-Broekaert echo decay times became the order of the decay time for transverse magnetization, i.e., the order of 10 micros or less. In the hydrated or paramagnetic systems, the dipolar relaxation times are too short to require inclusion in the quantitative analysis of magnetization transfer experiments.