Electromagnetic fields of surface coil in vivo NMR at high frequencies

A high frequency solution of the electromagnetic field produced by a circular surface coil adjacent to a homogeneous conducting, dielectric sphere is used to predict the attainable signal to noise ratio (S/N) and specific absorption rate (SAR) for in vivo 1H NMR spectroscopy experiments from 200 to 430 MHz (4.7-10 T). Above 200 MHz the S/N increases more rapidly with frequency and the SAR increases less rapidly compared with the respective S/N and SAR frequency dependence below 200 MHz. The difference in frequency dependence is due to dielectric resonances of the magnetic field inside the sphere at frequencies above 200 MHz. It is predicted that surface coil 1H NMR experiments may be performed on a head-sized sphere, having conductivity and relative dielectric constant of brain, at frequencies up to 430 MHz without exceeding 8 W/kg local SAR and 3.2 W/kg SAR. The calculations of the S/N and SAR are used to determine optimum surface coil geometries for NMR experiments. The power radiated by the surface coil in the absence of shielding and asymmetries in the received signal with respect to the plane defined by the surface coil axis and the direction of the static magnetic field are significant at high frequency. Experimental measurements of the magnetic field inside a head-sized sphere verify the presence of dielectric resonances at frequencies above 200 MHz.