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Introduction to Magnetic Resonance Imaging


Course Description

Introduction to the treatment of magnetic resonance imaging physics, including newer developments such as functional brain imaging and dynamic contrast enhanced MRI for tumor imaging. Students will gain hands-on lab experience (instrument operation, data acquisition, and data analysis) with the 3 Tesla MR system at the BioImaging Research Center.

Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be given additional and higher level reading material/homework, and will be expected to understand that material at a more sophisticated level. For example, graduate students will be expected to have a quantitative understanding of the material in addition to a qualitative one. They will be also be expected to write an additional term paper or give an in-class presentation on a current research topic in magnetic resonance physics, which will require them to read and understand research journal articles at the level expected of a graduate student.


Athena Title

Intro MRI Phys


Undergraduate Prerequisite

PHYS 3700


Graduate Prerequisite

Permission of department


Semester Course Offered

Not offered on a regular basis.


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Course Objectives

Both undergraduates and non-physics graduate students will gain an understanding of the modern methods of MRI physics, and how to apply this understanding to solve problems in biological and biomedical fields.


Topical Outline

1. Introduction to MRI 2. Concepts of magnetic resonance 3. MRI system and instrumentation 4. Relaxation and contrast 5. MR signal generation and detection 6. Imaging gradients 7. Fourier imaging 8. RF pulses and echoes 9. Imaging in multiple dimensions 10. Image reconstruction: sampling and aliasing 11. Signal, contrast, and noise 12. Rapid imaging pulse sequences 13. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI and tumor imaging 14. Functional MRI and brain imaging 15. Diffusion imaging