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What’s Inside the Magnet and Why?

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Cardiovascular MR Manual

Abstract

The use of Magnetic Resonance (MR) in medicine involves the interaction of magnetic fields with biological tissue. For magnetic resonance imaging, (MRI), three types of magnetic field are used to generate images. A strong, constant magnetic field. This has the symbol B0 and defines the nominal operating field strength of a particular MRI system. This is measured in units of Tesla, (T) with 1 T equal to approximately 20,000 times the earth’s magnetic field. A gradient magnetic field that can be rapidly switched on and off. This magnetic field has a strength that increases with position along a chosen direction and is measured in units of milliTesla per meter (mT/m). A radiofrequency (RF) magnetic field that oscillates at a characteristic frequency in the MegaHertz range, the exact value of which is determined by the nominal field strength of the main magnet. This is given the symbol B1.

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© 2010 Springer-Verlag London Limited

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Plein, S., Greenwood, J.P., Ridgway, J.P. (2010). What’s Inside the Magnet and Why?. In: Cardiovascular MR Manual. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-362-6_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-362-6_1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84996-361-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84996-362-6

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