Designing optimal universal pulses using second-order, large-scale, non-linear optimization.

Recently, RF pulse design using first-order and quasi-second-order pulses has been actively investigated. We present a full second-order design method capable of incorporating relaxation, inhomogeneity in B(0) and B(1). Our model is formulated as a generic optimization problem making it easy to incorporate diverse pulse sequence features.

Use of continuous optimization methods to find carbon links in 2D INADEQUATE spectra.

The 2-D INADEQUATE experiment is a useful experiment for determining carbon structures of organic molecules, which is known for having low signal-to-noise ratios. A non-linear optimization method for solving low-signal spectra resulting from this experiment is introduced to compensate. The method relies on the peak locations defined by the INADEQUATE experiment to create boxes around these areas and measure the signal in each.

Exact solution of the CPMG pulse sequence with phase variation down the echo train: application to Râ‚‚ measurements.

An implicit exact algebraic solution of CPMG experiments is presented and applied to fit experiments. Approximate solutions are also employed to explore oscillations and effective decay rates of CPMG experiments. The simplest algebraic approximate solution has illustrated that measured intensities will oscillate in the conventional CPMG experiments and that using even echoes can suppress errors of measurements of Râ‚‚ due to the imperfection of high-power pulses.

Exact solution to the Bloch equations and application to the Hahn echo.

The exact symbolic solution of the Bloch equations is given in the Lagrange form and illustrated with R2 experiments using a Hahn echo. Two different methods are also applied to approximately solve the Bloch equations, we find that splittings with effective-field interpretations are very substantially better than other approximations by comparing the errors. Estimates of transverse relaxation, R2, from Hahn echos are effected by frequency offset and field inhomogeneity.

Optimized sampling patterns for multidimensional T2 experiments.

Non-uniform sampling in multidimensional NMR shows great promise to significantly decrease experimental acquisition times, especially for relaxation experiments for which peak locations are already known. In this paper we present a method for optimizing the non-uniform sampling points such that the noise amplification and numerical instabilities are minimized. In particular, the minimum singular value of the Moore-Penrose pseudo-inverse is maximized using sequential semi-definite programming, thereby minimizing the worst-case errors.

Random volumetric MRI trajectories via genetic algorithms.

A pseudorandom, velocity-insensitive, volumetric k-space sampling trajectory is designed for use with balanced steady-state magnetic resonance imaging. Individual arcs are designed independently and do not fit together in the way that multishot spiral, radial or echo-planar trajectories do. Previously, it was shown that second-order cone optimization problems can be defined for each arc independent of the others, that nulling of zeroth and higher moments can be encoded as constraints, and that individual arcs can be optimized in seconds.

Simulation of steady-state NMR of coupled systems using Liouville space and computer algebra methods.

A series of repeated pulses and delays applied to a spin system generates a steady state. This is relatively easy to calculate for a single spin, but coupled systems present real challenges. We have used Maple, a computer algebra program to calculate one- and two-spin symbolically, and larger systems numerically.