Theoretical studies of the properties of magnetic resonance signal formed under the influence of distant dipolar field.

摘要

This dissertation studies the properties of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals of biological samples formed under the influence of distant dipolar field (DDF). The use of DDF effect for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has aroused substantial research interests in recent years because of the unique contrast features of DDF signal. The main research activities on this topic are to improve the DDF signal level, and to characterize the use of DDF effect on probing tissue structures and functional MRI in brain studies. Issues of both directions are addressed in this dissertation.;After a brief introduction to basic spin dynamics related to MR, the classical Bloch equation with the nonlinear DDF effect incorporated is solved analytically. The mechanism of separating the DDF signal from the whole signal of the sample based on the correlation spectroscopy revamped by asymmetric z-gradient echo detection (CRAZED) is first reviewed. That the sensitivity of the signal to physical parameters such as static magnetic field and transverse relaxation time are examined, and parameters for optimal signal-to-noise and contrast are obtained. The technique of multiple spin-echo acquisition to increase the signal magnitude and time efficiency is analyzed, and optimal conditions are found. Finally the problem of the sensitivity of DDF signal to variations in local magnetic field on a particular length scale is treated using a perturbation method. The results suggest that such sensitivity exists in a simple field distribution.