RF Field Distribution Research Articles

Study on the radiofrequency transparency of partial-ring oval-shaped prototype PET inserts in a 3T clinical MRI system.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the RF field responses of partial-ring RF-shielded oval-shaped positron emission tomography (PET) inserts that are used in combination with an MRI body RF coil. Partial-ring PET insert is particularly suitable for interventional investigation (e.g., trimodal PET/MRI/ultrasound imaging) and intraoperative (e.g., robotic surgery) PET/MRI studies. In this study, we used electrically floating Faraday RF shield cages to construct different partial-ring configurations of oval and cylindrical PET inserts and performed experiments on the RF field, spin echo and gradient echo images for a homogeneous phantom in a 3T clinical MRI system. For each geometry, partial-ring configurations were studied by removing an opposing pair or a single shield cage from different positions of the PET ring. Compared to the MRI-only case, reduction in mean RF homogeneity, flip angle, and SNR for the detector opening in the first and third quadrants was approximately 13%, 15%, and 43%, respectively, whereas the values were 8%, 23%, and 48%, respectively, for the detector openings in the second and fourth quadrants. The RF field distribution also varied for different partial-ring configurations. It can be concluded that the field penetration was high for the detector openings in the first and third quadrants of both the inserts.

Beam dynamics optimization design of Rhodotron electron accelerator based on genetic algorithm and sensitivity analysis

The beam dynamics optimization study of Rhodotron electron accelerator for irradiation sterilization is introduced in this paper. The Rhodotron accelerator acceleration principle and the RF field distribution in the coaxial resonant cavity are described in detail. Beam dynamics in the Rhodotron accelerator are analyzed from both transverse and longitudinal directions. Beam dynamics of two kinds of Rhodotron electron accelerators with maximum beam energy of 10 MeV and 40 MeV were optimized based on multi-objective genetic algorithm. The key parameters of Rhodotron accelerators are determined, and the influence of some parameters on the overall acceleration effect is quantitatively analyzed. This paper provides some references for the research, manufacture, installation, and commissioning of this type of accelerator.

Hybrid Bulk-Surface Modes Excited by a Sheet Electron Beam in THz Cherenkov Oscillator

It was shown that a spoof surface plasmon polariton (SSPP) with the uniform RF field distribution compatible with a sheet electron beam is resonantly excited by a bulk wave of an open cavity containing a nonuniform (bi-periodic) grating. This provides an efficient interaction of a wide sheet electron beam with a hybrid bulk surface mode (HBSM) in the THz Cherenkov oscillator that has been demonstrated by 3-D PIC simulations. The presented simulation results showed the excitation of oscillations in the range from 0.628 to 0.648 THz with watt level of output power and output efficiency up to 1% for the 100-mA 17.2–23.2-kV electron beam. The conditions for the suppression of the competing modes having variations across a grating width have been discussed.

Standardized universal pulse: A fast RF calibration approach to improve flip angle accuracy in parallel transmission.

In parallel transmission (pTX), subject-tailored RF pulses allow achieving excellent flip angle (FA) accuracy but often require computationally extensive online optimizations, precise characterization of the static field ( ), and the transmit RF field ( ) distributions. This costs time and requires expertise from the MR user. Universal pulses (UPs) have been proposed to reduce this burden, yet, with a penalty in FA accuracy. This study introduces the concept of standardized universal pulses (SUPs), where pulses are designed offline and adjusted to the subject through a fast online calibration scan. A SUP is designed offline using a so-called standardized database, wherein each map has been normalized to a reference transmit RF field distribution. When scanning a new subject, a 3-slice acquisition (scan time s) is performed and used to adjust the SUP to the subject through a linear transform. SUP performance was assessed at 7T with simulations by computing the FA-normalized root mean square error (FA-NRMSE) and the FA pattern stability as measured by the average and coefficient of variation of the FA across 15 control subjects, along with in vivo experiments using an MP2RAGE sequence implementing the SUP variant for the FLASH readout. Adjusted SUP improved the FA-NRMSE (8.8 for UP vs. 7.1 for adjusted SUP). Experimentally in vivo, this translated in an improved signal homogeneity and more accurate quantification using MP2RAGE. The proposed SUP approach improves excitation accuracy (FA-NRMSE) while preserving the same offline pulse design principle as offered by UPs.

Dark current studies of an L-band normal conducting RF gun

L-band normal conducting RF guns operating at long pulse mode and high gradient are installed at the European X-ray Free-Electron Laser (European XFEL) and the Free-electron LASer in Hamburg (FLASH) as high brightness electron sources. The dark current generated from the gun may cause severe issues, such as component activation, superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavity quench and undulator degradation. The dark current is one of the parameters limiting the gun accelerating gradient and performance. In this paper, we report the dark current tracking simulations, including the detailed RF field distribution in the gap between cathode plug and copper hole in the backplane. The transmission ratios of the field emission from cathode regions were simulated for different copper hole geometries and different plug insertions. The dark current imaging measurements were conducted in an L-band normal conducting RF gun (gun 4.2) at the Photo Injector Test facility at DESY in Zeuthen (PITZ). The dark current imaging comparison before and after a 180 degree cathode plug rotation shows the main dark current emissions come from the copper hole corner and Cs2Te film edge, which is consistent with the dark current tracking simulations.

Using nutation-frequency-selective pulses to reduce radio-frequency field inhomogeneity in solid-state NMR.

Radio-frequency (rf) field inhomogeneity is a common problem in NMR which leads to non-ideal rotations of spins in parts of the sample. Often, a physical volume restriction of the sample is used to reduce the effects of rf-field inhomogeneity, especially in solid-state NMR where spacers are inserted to reduce the sample volume to the centre of the coil. We show that band-selective pulses in the spin-lock frame can be used to apply -field selective inversions to spins that experience selected parts of the rf-field distribution. Any frequency band-selective pulse can be used for this purpose, but we chose the family of I-BURP pulses (Geen and Freeman, 1991) for the measurements demonstrated here. As an example, we show that the implementation of such pulses improves homonuclear frequency-switched Lee-Goldburg decoupling in solid-stateNMR.

Geometrical corrections for accurate fitting of the field dependent surface resistance for superconducting accelerating cavities

The different processes at the origin of the dependence of the surface resistance with the RF magnetic field are still not fully understood. Several models have emerged since many years to explain the drop of the quality factor Q0 (commonly called Q-drop) of a superconducting cavity versus the accelerating gradient. Experimental data are commonly fitted by applying a coarse approximation to convert the Q0 (a global property) into a surface resistance (local property). Extracting accurately the surface resistance from experimental data requires to take into account the RF field distribution over the accelerating structure contrary to what is commonly done in the community. Assuming a field dependent surface resistance does not allow anymore to use the well-known formula Q0=G∕Rs. This paper gives a procedure to perform an accurate conversion of the quality factor measured during a cavity test into a surface resistance to avoid any error in the evaluation of fitting parameters due to the geometry.

A simple head-sized phantom for realistic static and radiofrequency characterization at high fields.

To demonstrate a simple head-sized phantom for realistic static and RF field characterization in high field systems. The head-sized phantom was composed of an ellipsoidal compartment and a spherical cavity to mimic the nasal cavity. The phantom was filled with an aqueous solution of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), to mimic the average dielectric properties of brain tissue. The static and RF field distributions were characterized on a 7T MRI system and compared to in vivo measurements and simulations. MR thermometry was performed, and the results were compared to thermal simulations for RF validation purposes. Accurate reproduction of both static and RF fields patterns observed in vivo was confirmed experimentally and was shown to be strongly affected by the inclusion of the spherical cavity. MR thermometry and transmit efficiency ( B1+) measurements were obtained in close agreement with simulations (peak values agreeing within 0.3 °C and 0.02 μT/√W) as well as fiber optic thermal probes (RMSE < 0.18 °C). A simple head-sized phantom has been presented that produces B0 and B1+ nonuniformities similar to those encountered in the human head and allows for accurate MR thermometry measurements, making this a suitable reference phantom for RF validation and methodological development in high field MRI.

Enhancement of the Multipactor Threshold Inside Nonrectangular Iris

Multipactor breakdown is studied inside the capacitive iris of a rectangular waveguide with a skewed slot along its longitudinal cross section. Both the iris length and height are assumed to be small compared to the electromagnetic wavelength. Therefore, the quasi-static approximation is applied so as to describe the RF field distribution inside the iris gap, whereas a 2-D model is used to analyze the electron motion. The peculiarities of RF field structure are studied using the conformal mapping approach, which shows that the electric field lines can be approximated by circular arcs when the iris length is much larger than its height. The electron motion inside the iris gap is analyzed using different analytical approaches as well as numerical simulations. The simplest analytical consideration is based on the general theory of multipactor between curved surfaces. Within the more sophisticated model, the fringing field effect on electron motion inside the iris is calculated assuming circular structure of electric field lines. It is demonstrated within all approaches that the electron losses within the iris gap increase considerably with the skew angle, deviating from the rectangular iris shape. As a result, the multipactor becomes impossible at a relatively small value of this angle.

Imaging the spatial distribution of radiofrequency field, sample and temperature in MAS NMR rotor

We investigate using nutation experiments the spatial distribution of radiofrequency (rf) field, sample, temperature and cross-polarization transfer efficiency in 1.3 mm rotor. First, two-dimensional (2D) 1H nutation experiments on silicone thin cylinders in the presence of B0 field gradient generated by shim coils are used to image the spatial distribution of rf field inside the rotor. These experiments show that the rf field is asymmetrical with respect to the center of the rotor. Moreover, they show the large inhomogeneity that still remains across the sample when using spacers, and that even in this case, the rf-field close to the drive cap is decreased to ca. only 20% of its maximum value. Such 2D nutation experiment in the presence of B0 field gradient are also employed to demonstrate the migration of adamantane sample from the center of the rotor to its ends during Magic-Angle Spinning (MAS). Furthermore, 2D 1H nutation experiments on nickelocene exhibiting temperature-dependent isotropic chemical shift provides insights into the temperature distribution inside rotor. Finally three-dimensional (3D) 1H → 13C Cross-Polarization under MAS (CPMAS) nutation experiment indicates that only nuclei subject to the largest rf field contribute to the CPMAS transfer, when using rf field of constant amplitude on both channels. Such high selectivity allows the determination of accurate dipolar coupling constants in the Cross-Polarization with Variable Contact (CP-VC) experiment under fast MAS, at the expense of low sensitivity. Conversely when using ramped-amplitude on the 1H channel during the CPMAS transfer, nuclei subject to smaller rf field contributes to the transfer, which increases the sensitivity of CPMAS experiment but does not allow an accurate determination of dipolar coupling constants using CP-VC experiment.

Design and simulation of a short, variable-energy 4 to 10 MV S-band linear accelerator waveguide.

To modify a previously designed, short, 10 MV linac waveguide, so that it can produce any energy from 4 to 10 MV. The modified waveguide is designed to be a drop-in replacement for the 6 MV waveguide used in the author's current linear accelerator-magnetic resonance imager (Linac-MR). Using our group's previously designed short 10 MV linac as a starting point, the port was moved to the fourth cavity, the shift to the first coupling cavity was removed and a tuning cylinder added to the first coupling cavity. Each cavity was retuned using finite element method (FEM) simulations to resonate at the desired frequency. FEM simulations were used to determine the RF field distributions for various tuning cylinder depths, and electron trajectories were computed using a particle-in-cell model to determine the required RF power level and tuning cylinder depth to produce electron energy distributions for 4, 6, 8, and 10 MV photon beams. Monte Carlo simulations were then used to compare the depth dose profiles with those produced by published electron beam characteristics for Varian linacs. For each desired photon energy, the electron beam energy was within 0.5% of the target mean energy, the depth of maximum dose was within 1.5 mm of that produced by the Varian linac, and the ratio of dose at 10 cm depth to 20 cm depth was within 1%. A new 27.5 cm linear accelerator waveguide design capable of producing any photon energy between 4 and 10 MV has been simulated, however coupling port design and the implications of increased electron beam current at 10 MV remain to be investigated. For the specific cases of 4, 6, and 10 MV, this linac produces depth dose profiles similar to those produced by published spectra for Varian linacs.

Direct imaging of radio-frequency modes via traveling wave magnetic resonance imaging

We demonstrate an experimental method for direct 2D and 3D imaging of magnetic radio-frequency (rf) field distribution in metal-dielectric structures based on traveling wave (TW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at ultra-high field (&amp;gt;7 T). The typical apparatus would include an ultra-high field whole body or small bore MRI scanner, waveguide elements filled with MRI active dielectrics with predefined electric and magnetic properties, and TW rf transmit-receive probes. We validated the technique by obtaining TW MR images of the magnetic field distribution of the rf modes of circular waveguide filled with deionized water in a 16.4 T small-bore MRI scanner and compared the MR images with numerical simulations. Our MRI technique opens up a practical non-perturbed way of imaging of previously inaccessible rf field distribution of modes inside various shapes metal waveguides with inserted dielectric objects, including waveguide mode converters and transformers.

Effects of inherent rf field inhomogeneity on heteronuclear decoupling in solid-state NMR

Efficient heteronuclear decoupling is essential to obtain high-resolution NMR spectra of organic and biological solids containing protons and low-gamma nuclei such as carbon-13. All modern decoupling sequences employ pulse lengths that are optimized for a given radio-frequency (rf) power. However, there is an unavoidable distribution of rf field amplitudes across the volume of the sample. Inevitably, the effect of the rf field distribution manifests itself for fully packed rotors during any decoupling irradiation. In this study we present a detailed analysis of the effect of the inherent rf field inhomogeneity on decoupling by the low-power phase-inverted supercycled sequence for attenuation of rotary resonance (PISSARRO). This reveals a potential for further improvements of its efficiency.

Reduction of the higher-order field distribution in a photocathode rf gun for the X-ray free electron laser

The mechanism of the higher-order rf field elimination in the photocathode rf gun used for the X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) machine is discovered. The analysis and the measurement results of the rf field in several models of the rf gun with several holes at the cavity wall are presented. The contribution of the holes to the asymmetrical distribution of the rf field along the azimuthal angle is measured with several model cavities. Using a comparison between the experimental results and the numerically-obtained rf field distribution, we can reveal that the origin of the quadrupole component growing at the cavity with two holes and of the octapole component growing at the cavity with four holes is the superposition of the rf fields in the cavity. Two kinds of model cavities with several holes at the cavity wall have been fabricated, and the rf field distributions of the model cavities have been measured to compare with the theoretical analysis and the numerically-obtained rf field. From the analyses, we decided to adopt an rf gun that has dual feeds and two pumping holes for the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory (PAL-XFEL) project.

Inductance and near fields of a loop antenna in a cold magnetoplasma in the whistler frequency band

The influence of a magnetoplasma on the inductance of a circular loop antenna oriented perpendicular to the ambient static magnetic field and operated in the whistler frequency band is studied. Based on a strict electrodynamic approach, the analytical treatment of the antenna reactance is performed for a uniform rf current distribution along the antenna wire. Calculations are made for plasma parameters and operating frequencies typical for active ionospheric experiments and laboratory rf (helicon) sources of dense magnetized plasmas. It is shown that the plasma influence on the inductance of the loop antenna remains relatively weak, even for antennas with dimensions close to half of the longitudinal whistler wavelength, when the rf field distribution in the antenna near zone is strongly different from that in vacuum. The theoretical predictions are confirmed by measurements performed on the large KROT plasma device. The results obtained are of crucial importance for the preparation of active ionospheric experiments and for the matching of loop antennas used in laboratory rf sources of dense magnetized plasmas.

On O–X mode conversion in a 3D inhomogeneous plasma

An analysis of Maxwell's equations valid in a region of an ordinary wave to extraordinary wave conversion in plasmas confined by sheared and curved magnetic fields is carried out to derive an approximate system of wave equations in a three-dimensional (3D) inhomogeneous simplified stellarator-like geometry. The case is considered in which the ordinary wave cut-off surface and extraordinary wave cut-off surface, whose curvature is neglected, intersect at a point corresponding to the maximum of an incoming wave transverse distribution. The set of reduced partial differential wave equations is solved analytically by an integral representation of solutions. The form of the integral representation is justified by identifying the contour of integration. An asymptotic representation of the solution in the WKB domain is obtained that gives conversion coefficients for beams of WKB waves with a finite transverse distribution of rf field.

A theoretical and experimental study on transverse field radio frequency surface coils

We have analysed, theoretically and experimentally, transverse field RF surface coils comprising two parallel linear current elements (figure-of-eight, FO8). A quasi-static numerical integration of the Biot–Savart law was used to simulate the B 1 field distribution of FO8 coils comprising a range of coil diameters and linear element separations. RF coil prototypes, suitable for 1H and 31P magnetic resonance imaging/spectroscopy at 1.5 T, that closely match the simulated models, were built and tested using workbench and MRI methods. A comparison with standard loop RF coils was made. Testing with phantoms showed a good agreement between the theoretical and experimental RF field distributions. Our findings should be useful to optimize the sensitivity and spatial selectivity of FO8 coils by a careful choice of the geometrical parameters. A number of applications where the use of FO8 RF coils could be of benefit are discussed, these include in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance imaging/spectroscopy.

Towards a complete coil array

A complete RF coil system, as has been previously defined, is capable of generating any steady-state RF field, at the MR frequency, that is compatible with Maxwell's equations. A coil system is complete if it is capable of generating all basis vector fields in the multipole expansion of the electromagnetic fields. A complete coil system has the potential to reach the ultimate intrinsic signal-to-noise as an MRI receiver coil. It also offers maximum flexibility in tailoring the spatial RF field distribution as an excitation coil. Here, computer simulations have been performed on array coils employing composite coil elements, assuming the current loops are small and can be approximated by magnetic dipoles. We demonstrate that a coil array can be configured to approximate a truncated complete array coil and to generate the basis magnetic vector fields up to certain orders in the multipole expansion of the electromagnetic fields.

Manipulation of image intensity distribution at 7.0 T: Passive RF shimming and focusing with dielectric materials

To investigate the effects of high dielectric material padding on RF field distribution in the human head at 7.0 T, and demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of RF passive shimming and focusing with such an approach. The intensity distribution changes of gradient-recalled-echo (GRE) and spin-echo (SE) images of a human head acquired with water pads (dielectric constant = 78) placed in specified configurations around the head at 7.0 T were evaluated and compared with computer simulation results using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The contributions to the B(1) field distribution change from the displacement current and conductive current of a given configuration of dielectric padding were determined with computer simulations. MR image intensity distribution in the human head with an RF coil at 7.0 T can be changed drastically by placing water pads around the head. Computer simulations reveal that the high permittivity of water pads results in a strong displacement current that enhances image intensity in the nearby region and alters the intensity distribution of the entire brain. The image intensity distribution in the human head at ultra-high field strengths can be effectively manipulated with high permittivity padding. Utilizing this effect, the B(1) field inside the human head of a given RF coil can be adjusted to reduce the B(1) field inhomogeneity artifact associated with the wave behavior (RF passive shimming) or to locally enhance the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in targeted regions of interest (ROIs; RF field focusing).

Practical design of a 4 Tesla double-tuned RF surface coil for interleaved 1H and 23Na MRI of rat brain

MRI is proving to be a very useful tool for sodium quantification in animal models of stroke, ischemia, and cancer. In this work, we present the practical design of a dual-frequency RF surface coil that provides 1H and 23Na images of the rat head at 4 T. The dual-frequency RF surface coil comprised of a large loop tuned to the 1H frequency and a smaller co-planar loop tuned to the 23Na frequency. The mutual coupling between the two loops was eliminated by the use of a trap circuit inserted in the smaller coil. This independent-loop design was versatile since it enabled a separate optimisation of the sensitivity and RF field distributions of the two coils. To allow for an easy extension of this simple double-tuned coil design to other frequencies (nuclei) and dimensions, we describe in detail the practical aspects of the workbench design and MRI testing using a phantom that mimics in vivo conditions. A comparison between our independent-loop, double-tuned coil and a single-tuned 23Na coil of equal size obtained with a phantom matching in vivo conditions, showed a reduction of the 23Na sensitivity (about 28 %) because of signal losses in the trap inductance. Typical congruent 1H and 23Na rat brain images showing good SNR ( 23Na: brain 7, ventricular cerebrospinal fluid 11) and spatial resolution ( 23Na: 1.25 × 1.25 × 5 mm 3) are also reported. The in vivo SNR values obtained with this coil were comparable to, if not better than, other contemporary designs in the literature.