Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Physical Principles and Sequence Design

Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Preview. Classical of a Single Nucleus to a Magnetic Field. Rotating Reference Frames and Resonance. Magnetization, Relaxation and the Bloch Equation. The Quantum Mechanical Basis of Precession and Excitation. The Quantum Mechanical Basis of Thermal Equilibrium and Longitudinal Relaxation. Signal Detection Concepts. Introductory Signal Acquisition Methods: Free Induction Decay, Spin Echoes, Inversion Recovery and Spectroscopy. One-Dimensional Fourier Imaging, k-Space and Gradient Echoes. Multi-Dimensional Fourier Imaging and Slice Excitation. The Continuous and Discrete Fourier Transforms. Sampling and Aliasing in Image Reconstruction. Filtering and Resolution in Fourier Transform Image Reconstruction. Projection Reconstruction of Images. Signal, Contrast and Noise. A Closer Look at Radiofrequency Pulses. Water/Fat Separation Techniques. Fast Imaging in the Steady State. Segmented k-Space and Echo Planar Imaging. Magnetic Field Inhomogeneity Effects and T-2 Dephasing. Random Walks, Relaxation and Diffusion. Spin Density, T-1 and T-2 Quantification Methods in MR Imaging. Motion Artifacts and Flow Compensation. MR Angiography and Flow Quantification. Magnetic Properties of Tissues: Theory and Measurement. Sequence Design, Artifacts and Nomenclature. Introduction to MRI Coils and Magnets. Appendices. Index.