Joint Annual Meeting ISMRM-ESMRMB 2014 ○ 10-16 May 2014 ○ Milan, Italy
WEEKEND EDUCATIONAL COURSE
MR Physics for Physicists
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate to Advanced
ORGANIZERS: Xiaoping P. Hu, Ph.D. & Jianhui Zhong, Ph.D.
Saturday, 10 May 2014 (08:30 - 18:00)
 
OVERVIEW
This one-day course systematically describes basic theories of NMR physics and electromagnetism and their connections with major aspects of MR. It will provide a systematic and in-depth understanding of major topics of MR from the basic physics principles, laying the foundation that underlies research and development for MR imaging and spectroscopy, and prepare the audience with the physics and mathematical foundations of MRI and MRS needed to advance both basic science and applied clinical research projects. Lectures cover basic principles of NMR and its implication for relaxation, contrast, RF excitation and diffusion weighted imaging, and Maxwell’s equations and their implication in static fields, gradients and RF coil design and pulse design. Each 25-minute didactic lecture will be given by an accomplished Ph.D. scientist-teacher and is followed by a 5-minute discussion. As in all weekend courses, informal “Meet the Teachers” breaks are provided throughout the program.
 
TARGET AUDIENCE
The course is designed for Ph.D. candidates and recent Ph.D. graduates in natural sciences, applied mathematics or engineering, as well as established physicians and Ph.D. scientists. Individuals who will likely benefit most from the course are those who have recently completed or will complete a graduate educational program in MR physics, chemistry, applied mathematics or engineering and those practitioners of MR with extensive practical experience but seek to obtain a more systematic physics foundation.
 
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

As a result of attending this course, participants should be able to: :

  • Form a unified view of the fundamental physical bases of MR;
  • Understand the quantum mechanical nature of NMR;
  • Understand the importance of the Bloch equations and classical description of NMR;
  • Identify the interaction between spin-bearing particles and electromagnetic fields; and
  • Understand the relevance of electromagnetic fields and their description by Maxwell’s equation in MRI.
 

PROGRAM

Moderators: Xiaoping P. Hu, Ph.D., Jianhui Zhong, Ph.D. & Xiaohong Joe Zhou, Ph.D., D.A.B.R.
         
      NMR Physics: Firming up the Foundations  
08:30 Quantum Mechanical Description of NMR: From Wave Function to Bloch Equation Michael H. Buonocore, M.D., Ph.D.
09:00 Problems in MR that Need Quantum Mechanics: The Density Matrix Approach Robert V. Mulkern, Ph.D.
09:30 Multiple Quantum Coherence, Editing & Multidimensional NMR Daniel F. Gochberg, Ph.D.
         
10:00     Break - Meet the Teachers  
         
10:30 From Bloch Equation to MR Contrasts: Relaxation & Physical Bases of Tissue Contrast William D. Rooney, Ph.D.
11:00 Other Contrast: Polarization Transfer, Chemical Exchange & Magnetization Transfer Penny A. Gowland, Ph.D.
11:30 Bloch Equation in the Rotating Frame, Multidimensional Excitation Douglas C. Noll, Ph.D.
12:00 Bloch-Torrey Equation & Diffusion Imaging (DWI, DTI, q-space Imaging) Jennifer A. McNab, Ph.D.
         
12:30     Lunch Break  
      12:30 - 12:45 - Meet the Teachers  
         
      Electromagnetic Fields in MRI: from Theory to Practice  
14:00  Maxwell Equations & EM Modeling Christopher M. Collins, Ph.D.
14:30 Static Magnetic Field: Magnetic Field (in)homogeneity, Effects of Susceptibility, Demagnetizing Field & Lorentz Sphere Jürgen R. Reichenbach, Ph.D.
15:00 Understanding Gradients from an EM Perspective: Gradient Linearity, Eddy Currents, Maxwell Terms & Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Johan A. Overweg, Ph.D.
         
15:30     Break - Meet the Teachers  
         
16:00 RF Field Generation, Coupling, Traveling Wave Transmission David O. Brunner, Ph.D.
16:30 RF Field Transmission: B1-Field Non-Uniformity & SAR Lawrence L. Wald, Ph.D.
17:00 B1-Shimming & Parallel Transmission Ulrich Katscher, Ph.D.
17:30 Signal Detection, Reciprocity & SNR Christopher M. Collins, Ph.D.
         
18:00     Adjournment  
      18:00-18:15 Meet the Teachers