title: Remote detected Low-Field MRI using an optically pumped atomic magnetometer combined with a liquid cooled pre-polarization coil.
abstract: Superconducting quantum interference devices are widely used in basic and clinical biomagnetic measurements such as low-field magnetic resonance imaging and magnetoencephalography primarily because they exhibit high sensitivity at low frequencies and have a wide bandwidth. The main disadvantage of these devices is that they require cryogenic coolants, which are rather expensive and not easily available. Meanwhile, with the advances in laser technology in the past few years, optically pumped atomic magnetometers (OPAMs) have been shown to be a good alternative as they can have adequate noise levels and are several millimeters in size, which makes them significantly easier to use. In this study, we used an OPAM module operating at a Larmor frequency of 5kHz to acquire NMR and MRI signals. This study presents these initial results as well as our initial attempts at imaging using this OPAM module. In addition, we have designed a liquid-cooled pre-polarizing coil that reduces the measurement time significantly.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan. Electronic address: zorndar83@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hilschenz
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Yosuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Natsukawa
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Takenori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oida
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
keywords: Atomic magnetometer; Low Field; MRI; OPAM