Basics Physics of MRI

Outline

• Types of Magnet:
-Permanent magnet , Resistive and
Superconducting
• Magnetization and magnetic properties of a
proton
• Larmor frequency
• Excitation and Relaxation
• Pulse and Spin echo sequence
• Spin echo formation
 MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

is a non-invasive medical imaging technique that

uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to
create detailed images of the internal structures
of the body.
It’s widely used to visualize soft tissues, organs,
and even complex structures like the brain and
spinal cord.
 Magnet

 A magnet is a material or object that produces a

magnetic field. This magnetic field is invisible but is
responsible for the most notable property of a magnet:
a force that pulls on other ferromagnetic materials, such
as iron, and attracts or repels other magnets.
 Types of Magnet
Permanent Magnet - is a material that
generates a persistent magnetic field on its
own, without the need for an external power
source or electric current.
Examples –( an alloy of aluminum, nickel, and
cobalt)
Application - hard drives, motors, cars,
generators, televisions, phones, headphones,
speakers, transducers, sensors
 TYPES OF MAGNET
• Superconducting - magnet made from coils of wire that
carry an electric current without resistance when cooled to
very low temperatures. Because there's no resistance, the
current flows indefinitely, generating a strong and stable
magnetic field without continuous power input!
 Applications: MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
 Machines Particle accelerators (like CERN's Large Hadron
Collider)
 Magnetic confinement fusion reactors
 Magnetic levitation (Maglev) trains
 Scientific research (e.g., nuclear magnetic resonance
spectroscopy
 Types of magnet
 Resistive magnet – is a type of electromagnet that generates a magnetic
field by passing an electric current through coils of conductive wire.
 resistive magnets have electrical resistance, so they consume a lot of power
and produce heat.
 Electric current flows through the wire, generating a magnetic field
according to Ampère’s law.
 Applications:
- Material science research (studying magnetic properties of materials)
- Plasma confinement experiments
- Magnetic resonance experiments
- Beamline experiments in particle physics
 Magnetization is a fundamental property in understanding how
materials respond to magnetic fields, which is crucial in designing
electromagnets, transformers, magnetic storage devices, and even
medical imaging technologies like MRI.
 We all are made up of elements
 92 elements occur naturally on earth.
 Human body is built of only 26 elements.
 Oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen elements constitute
96 % of human body mass.
 The adult human body is ~53% water, and water is ~11%
hydrogen by mass but ~67% hydrogen by atomic percent.
 Thus, most of the mass of the human body is oxygen, but
most of the atoms in the human body are hydrogen
atoms.
 The average 70 kg adult human body contains
approximately 3 x 1027 atoms of which 67% are hydrogen
atoms.
 MR active nuclei:
C13
F19
P31
N15
O17
• Due to unpaired Proton nuclei of these
elements act as a tiny magnet.
 Why hydrogen?
 Simplest element with atomic number of 1 and
atomic weight of 1
 When in ionic state (H+), it is nothing but a proton.
 Proton is not only positively charged, but also has
magnetic spin.
 MRI utilizes this magnetic spin property of protons
of hydrogen to elicit images!!
 Essentially all MRI is hydrogen (proton) imaging

Are we magnets?
But why we can’t act like magnets?
►The protons (i.e.
Hydrogen ions) in body
are spinning in a hap
hazard fashion, and
cancel all the magnetism.
That is our natural state!
►We need to discipline
them first, how?
 Body in an external magnetic field
(B0)

 In our natural state Hydrogen ions in

body are spinning in a haphazard
fashion, and cancel all the magnetism.

 When an external magnetic field is

applied protons in the body align in one
direction. (As the compass aligns in the
presence of earth’s magnetic field)
 Net magnetization
 Half of the protons align along the magnetic field and rest are aligned opposite

 At room temperature, the

population ratio of anti-
parallel versus parallel
protons is roughly 100,000
to 100,007 per Tesla of B0

 These extra protons produce net magnetization vector (M)

 Net magnetization depends on B0 and temperature

B0 Magnetic Field Strength

 Manipulating the net magnetization
 Magnetization can be manipulated by changing the magnetic field
environment (static, gradient, and RF fields)

 RF waves are used to manipulate the magnetization of H nuclei

 Externally applied RF waves perturb magnetization into different axis

(transverse axis). Only transverse magnetization produces signal.

 When perturbed nuclei return to their original state they emit RF signals
which can be detected with the help of receiving coils
 MRI COMPONENTS
 Stationary magnet - ( Permanent ~0.3T, Resistive (0.02-0.4T &
Superconducting magnet - Creates a strong, stable magnetic field
(typically 1.5 to 3 tesla).
 Gradient coils - Help localize signals to specific areas of the body.
(Three sets of gradient coils, each for x, y and z axes).
 Radiofrequency coils – Serve as both the transmitter and the
receiver of the MRI signal
 Table – table is usually slightly curved for the patient comfort and
to conform to the circular shape of the bore of the magnet
 Computer- the computer must precisely control the gradient and
RF coils and their pulsing sequences as well as to collect and
process the received RF data.
 Operating console- controls the scanning procedure by specifying
the radiofrequency.
 Display console – The image reconstruction algorithms take place.
 PREPARATION
 Fasting: Fasting is not always required but may be
recommended if contrast material will be used.
 Clothing: Patients should wear loose, comfortable
clothing or a hospital gown.
 Metal Precautions: Ensure removal of all metallic
objects, including piercings, hearing aids, and
dentures. Screen for any metallic implants (e.g.,
pacemakers, cochlear implants) as these may
contraindicate the scan.
 Tattoo Check: Assess for tattoos containing metallic
ink, as they may cause irritation or heating.
 Claustrophobia: Screen for claustrophobia and offer
sedation if necessary.
 IV Line: Insert an IV line if gadolinium contrast is
required.
 How MRI works :
 Magnetic field alignment: The patient lies inside a large
cylindrical magnet, where a powerful superconducting
magnet aligns hydrogen nuclei (protons) in the body.
 Radio wave pulse: A radio frequency (RF) pulse is applied,
causing the protons to absorb energy and move out of
alignment.
 Signal emission: When the RF pulse stops, the protons relax
back to their original alignment, releasing energy in the
form of radio signals.
 Image formation: These signals are detected by receivers
and processed by a computer to generate detailed, cross-
sectional images of the body.
 Origin of MRI signal

• Arises from the interaction of radiofrequency pulses with the net

magnetization.
 Precession
Proton moves in like spinning top.
In two axis wobbling motion called
Precession, depends on magnetic
field strength

Precession is the phenomenon where protons (or any spinning charged particle with a magnetic
moment) wobble around the direction of an external magnetic field, much like a spinning top.
 Precession frequency
 Precession frequency is dependent on strength of
external magnet field
 It is determined by Larmor Equation
f = g x B0
– f is precession frequency in Hz or MHz
– Bo in magnetic field strength in Tesla
– g is gyro-magnetic ratio, for proton is 42.6 MHz/Tesla
– Stronger the external magnetic field higher the precession
frequency
 Larmor frequency
 The Larmor equation states that the resonance frequency of
a magnetic nucleus (the radio frequency needed to excite a
nucleus to the higher spin rate) is directly proportional to
the magnetic environment it experiences.

 The Larmor equation is important because it is the

frequency at which the nucleus will absorb energy. The
absorption of that energy will cause the proton to alter its
alignment and ranges from 1-100 MHz in MRI.
 Larmor frequencies

• 3T ~ 130 mHz
• 7T ~ 300 mHz
• 11.7T ~ 500 mHz
 Applications of larmor equation
- Equation can be applied to any particle which has a spin or angular
momentum
- Applied in measuring NMR, NPR.
It is found useful in the study of cosmic rays because the precision rate is
independent of spatial orientation of spins.
- In MRI
The larmor frequency signify precision rate of the protons magnetic
moment around external magnetic field.
 Image quality factors
• Field strength
• Section Thickness
• Effect of MRI Parameters
• Motion
• Spatial resolution
• Signal to Noise ratio
• Scan time
• Image contrast
• Chemical shift artifact.
• Paramagnetic contrast agents
 Section thickness
• Determined by the size or depth of the tissue
voxel
• All signals from a single voxel are mathematically
combined to give a single image value for the
voxel
• The voxel size determines the smallest tissue
differences that can be imaged.
• The dimension of a voxel is determined by
dividing the size of the field of view by the matrix
size.
• d= F/M , d is the voxel dimension, F field of view and M
matrix size.
 Example

• Calculate the voxel dimension for a 256 x 256

matrix showing a field of view of 22 cm?
 Effect of MRI Parameters
• Proton spin density
• Repetition time ( TR)
• Echo time ( TE)
• Inversion time (TI)
• Spin- lattice relaxation (T1)
• Spin – spin relaxation (T2)
 Signal to Noise ratio (S/N)
• Noise is measured as the signal to noise ratio, it
is determined by the voxel size and detection
volume, the quantity of precessing protons, the
pulse sequence and the field strength
• The S/N is enhanced by reducing TE and using
optimal TR.
• Also be enhanced by averaging a series of RF
signals and by the use of a stronger magnetic
field.
 Magnetic excitation
Refers to the process of disturbing a magnetic system, causing its magnetic moments or
spins to transition into higher-energy states.

magnetic excitation occurs when a radiofrequency (RF) pulse is applied at the Larmor
frequency of hydrogen protons:

 Initial state: Protons align with the strong external magnetic field (B₀).
 Excitation: The RF pulse tips the protons out of alignment, causing their spins to
precess in phase.
 Relaxation: The protons gain energy and precess around the magnetic field, generating
a detectable signal as they relax back to their lower-energy state.
 Magnet relaxation

refers to the process by which a magnetized

system returns to its equilibrium state after being
disturbed. In simple terms, when spins (like those
of protons or electrons) are excited by an external
magnetic field, they eventually lose that extra
energy and relax back to their original alignment.
T1- Longitudinal magnetization
T2 – Transverses magnetization
 T1 ( Spin –Lattice interaction
Cause: Spins interact with their surroundings (the "lattice") and transfer energy to or from
the surrounding environment.
This energy exchange causes the spins to return to thermal equilibrium with the lattice,
i.e., they align again with the external magnetic field.
Result: The longitudinal magnetization (aligned with the magnetic field) recovers over
time as the spins release or absorb energy from the lattice.
Impact: This is responsible for T₁ relaxation, where the magnetization along the field
direction recovers.
 T2 Spin- Spin Interaction
Cause: Spins of neighboring particles interact with each other, leading to a loss of phase
coherence among the spins.
These interactions don’t necessarily involve energy transfer to the lattice, but instead
cause the spins to become misaligned with each other over time.
Result: The transverse component of the magnetization (in the plane perpendicular to the
magnetic field) decays as the spins dephase.
Impact: This is responsible for T₂ relaxation, where the magnetization in the transverse
direction decays.
 T1 and T2 relaxation
 When RF pulse is stopped higher energy gained by
proton is retransmitted and hydrogen nuclei relax by
two mechanisms
 T1 or spin lattice relaxation- by which original
magnetization (Mz) begins to recover.
 T2 relaxation or spin spin relaxation - by which
magnetization in X-Y plane decays towards zero in an
exponential fashion. It is due to incoherence of H
nuclei.
 T1 is usually larger than T2.
 T2 values of CNS tissues are shorter than T1 values
 Factors Effecting T1
• T1 depends on the surrounding tissue composition and structure
• The shorter the T1, the quicker the protons exchange thermal energy
with the lattice
• Liquids have a long T1:
– Difficult to hand over thermal energy as the surrounding molecules are moving
too rapidly
• Fat has a short T1:
– The carbon bonds at the ends of fatty acids have frequencies near the Larmor
frequency: Thus energy transfer is easier
• T1 increases as the strength of the external magnetic field (B ) increases:
• The protons precess faster (Larmor frequency increases)
• Faster moving protons are less efficient at transferring energy to the
slower moving lattice
 Factors Effecting T2
• Dephasing is caused by inhomogeneities in:
– The external magnetic field (B )
– Local magnetic fields in the surrounding tissue
• The shorter the T2, the more inhomogeneous
the local magnetic field is
 Factors Effecting T2
• Liquids:
• The molecules within liquids move relatively quickly.
This means the local magnetic fields of those molecules
also move quickly. The magnetic fields “average out” to
give a relatively homogeneous magnetic field Protons,
therefore, stay in phase for longer T2 is long
• Impure liquids:
• Large molecules move relatively slowly. This means
that the local magnetic field is more inhomogeneous.
Protons, therefore, dephase more quickly T2 is short
 Properties of Body Tissues
Material T1 (ms) T2 (ms)

Fat 250 80

Liver 400 40

Kidney 550 60

Spleen 400 60

White Matter 650 90

Grey matter 800 100

CSF 2000 150

Water 3000 3000

Bone, Teeth Very long Very short

Basic Physics of MRI: T1 and T2
T1 is shorter in fat (large
molecules) and longer in
CSF (small molecules). T1
contrast is higher for lower
TRs.

T2 is shorter in fat and longer

in CSF. Signal contrast
increased with TE.
 In a Nutshell

TR determines T1 contrast

TE determines T2 contrast.
 TR-----Time to Repeat
• TR (Repetition Time): The time between the
beginning of one pulse sequence and the next.
This affects the T₁ relaxation and signal
strength.
• TR is the time between 90° RF pulses
• TR varies depending on the study and can be set
by the operator:
• Long TR > 1500 msec
• Short TR < 500 msec
• We can see that brain has a shorter T1 than CSF
• If we wait a long time between RF pulses (TR ) there is very little
difference in signal intensity between brain and CSF
• If we repeat the RF pulse sooner (TR ) there will be a greater
difference in signal intensity because the longitudinal
magnetisation of brain will have recovered and will lead to a
greater transverse magnetisation after the flip following the RF
pulse
 TE----Time to Echo (Signal)
• TE (echo time) : time interval in which signals
are measured after RF excitation.
• Short TE < 45 msec
• Long TE > 45 msec
• Here we see that the longer the TE greater will
be the contrast between the different tissues.
Different tissues have different relaxation
times. These relaxation time differences
is used to generate image contrast.
 Spin Echo Sequence

 The spin echo sequence is a crucial technique used in Magnetic

Resonance Imaging (MRI) to generate high-quality images and
improve signal clarity by minimizing the effects of spin dephasing. It
helps recover the lost coherence of spin magnetization after it is
disturbed by inhomogeneities in the magnetic field or other relaxation
effects.
 Why Spin Echo is Important:

 Improves Signal Quality: The spin echo sequence helps reduce

the effects of magnetic field inhomogeneities and other
imperfections in the system. This results in more accurate,
clearer images.
 Restores Coherence: The 180° pulse refocuses the dephased
spins, allowing for better image contrast and reducing signal
loss due to T₂ decay.
 MRI Imaging: Spin echo sequences are commonly used in
clinical MRI because they provide high-quality images with less
sensitivity to magnetic field variations.

The spin echo sequence is an essential MRI and NMR technique that helps recover
magnetization coherence, improving image quality by reversing the dephasing of spins.
It plays a vital role in reducing noise, enhancing contrast, and producing high-quality
diagnostic images, particularly in T₂-weighted imaging.
 WHY IS MRI A POWERFUL TECHNIQUE?

 Soft tissue contrast: Excellent for visualizing

muscles, ligaments, the brain, and tumours.
Non-ionizing radiation: Unlike X-rays or CT
scans, MRI doesn’t use harmful ionizing
radiation.
Multiple imaging sequences: Can highlight
different tissue properties (T1, T2, diffusion-
weighted imaging, etc.).