Chinese Journal of Magnetic Resonance ›› 2010, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (3): 386-395.

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Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Imaging of Hyperpolarized 3He Using High-Tc Superconducting Quantum Interference Device in Microtesla Magnetic Fields

CHEN Ming-Jye1, LIAO Shu-Hsien1, YANG Hong-Chang1, HORNG Herng-Er1, CHEN Hsin-Hsien2, YANG Shieh-Yueh2,3   

  1. 1. Graduate Institute of Applied Physics/Department of Physics, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106;
    2. Institute of Electro optical Science and Technology, National Taiwan Normal University,  Taipei 116;
    3. MagQu Co., Ltd, Sindian City, Taipei County 231
  • Received:2010-07-14 Online:2010-09-05 Published:2010-09-05

Abstract:

A study of nuclear magnetic resonance and imaging (NMR/MRI) of optically pumped hyperpolarized 3He using high Tc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) in microtesla fields was reported. Hyperpolarized 3He was obtained by pumping optical cell containing 3He, N2, 4He and a few grams of Rb metal using a circularly polarized laser. In the characterization of 3He the precession spins of 3He were coupled to the SQUID magnetometer by a flux transformer. The SQUID and was designed within a superconducting Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3Oy vessel to avoid environmental noises. The NMR signal using the flux transformer shows an enhancement in signal-to-noise ratio over that directly measured by the SQUID magnetometer. The SQUID-detected NMR/MRI using hyperpolarized 3He can be of interest for lung imaging in ultralow magnetic fields.

Key words: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, SQUID, optical pumping

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