Goals of the course

Radio frequency (RF) pulses are the tool by which nuclear spins are forced to do their “gymnastics” which reveals to us the internal structure of bodies and molecules in MRI and NMR experiments. Their properties determine many essential quality and safety aspects of MR techniques, such as the precision of slice selection, homogeneity of image contrast, efficiency of spectral suppression or the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). A good understanding of how RF pulses act on the spins, how they should be chosen and how they can be designed is a great asset for all MR scientists seeking a full control of the instruments they use.

The aim of the course is to provide an in-depth insight into the design and usage of RF pulses in magnetic resonance imaging. Starting from a basic introduction to the physics of RF interaction with the spin system, the course will cover the major pulse design and calculation techniques and  provide guidance how to choose suitable pulses in common MRI sequences. A special emphasis will also be put on the design and applications of so-called multidimensional RF pulses, particularly in combination with the concept of parallel RF transmission.

The course will cover

• Introduction to the physics and technical aspects of RF pulses
• Calculation of RF pulses in the Small-Tip-Angle approximation
• Calculation methods for Large-Tip-Angle pulses: The Shinnar-Le-Roux and the Optimal-Control approach
• Which RF pulse to choose for which function in common MRI sequences
• Special purpose RF pulses
• Multidimensional RF pulses: Localisation and modulation of the transverse magnetisation in more than one dimension
• Parallel Excitation/Transmit SENSE: How the world of multidimensional pulses changes with the introduction of new degrees of freedom by multiple transmission channels

Further Information: https://www.esmrmb.org/education/lectures-on-mr/courses-2019/rf-pulses/