Speaker: Neelam Prabhu Gaunkar, ECpE Graduate Student
Advisor: David Jiles
Title: Magnetic Resonance in Low Non-Uniform Magnetic Fields
Abstract: In magnetic resonance experiments, gradients introduced by field non-uniformities are considered disadvantageous due to low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and spatial resolution. In this work, we report a novel way of identifying localized regions of field uniformity in non-uniform fields. Correspondingly, the detection region is focused, and therefore, higher SNR and spatial information may be obtained. Placement of a test sample in such regions allows detection of magnetic resonance signals despite field non-uniformity around, opening many fascinating possibilities for NMR applications. In this talk, a brief overview of nuclear magnetic resonance and design of a device suited for non-uniform fields will be presented. Finite element simulations were used to design a permanent magnet based device and to localize a region of uniformity. Additionally, a pulsed magnetic field generator was designed to apply pulsed fields in the detection volume. Chemical species placed in regions experiencing both the fields simultaneously will emit magnetic resonance signals. This signal detection method, with additional techniques of deriving depth information, will eventually be of great importance in portable medical imaging systems.