What is spin? Spin is a fundamental property of nature like electrical charge or mass. Spin comes in multiples of 1/2 and can be + or -. Protons, electrons, and neutrons possess spin. Individual unpaired electrons, protons, and neutrons each possesses a spin of 1/2.
In the deuterium atom ( 2H ), with one unpaired electron, one unpaired proton, and one unpaired neutron, the total electronic spin = 1/2 and the total nuclear spin = 1.
Two or more particles with spins having opposite signs can pair up to eliminate the observable manifestations of spin. An example is helium.
In nuclear magnetic resonance, it is unpaired nuclear spins that are of
importance.
When placed in a magnetic field of strength B, a particle with a net spin can absorb a photon, of frequency
. The frequency
depends on the gyromagnetic ratio, 
of the
particle.
= BFor hydrogen, = 42.58 MHz / T.
Almost every element in the periodic table has an isotope with a non zero nuclear spin. 
NMR can only be performed on isotopes whose natural abundance is high enough
to be detected, however some of the nuclei which are of interest in MRI
are listed below.
| Nuclei | Unpaired Protons | Unpaired Neutrons | Net Spin | (MHz/T) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1H | 1 | 0 | 1/2 | 42.58 |
| 2H | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6.54 |
| 31P | 0 | 1 | 1/2 | 17.25 |
| 23Na | 2 | 1 | 3/2 | 11.27 |
| 14N | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3.08 |
| 13C | 0 | 1 | 1/2 | 10.71 |
| 19F | 0 | 1 | 1/2 | 40.08 |
To understand how particles with spin behave in a magnetic field, consider a proton.
This proton has the property called spin. Think of the spin of this proton
as a magnetic moment vector, causing the proton to behave like a tiny magnet
with a north and south pole.
When the proton is placed in an external magnetic field, the spin vector of the particle aligns itself with the external field, just like
a magnet would. There is a low energy configuration or state where the
poles are aligned N-S-N-S
and a high energy state N-N-S-S.
This particle can undergo a transition between the two energy states by the absorption of a photon. A particle in the lower energy state absorbs a photon and ends up in the upper energy state. The energy of this photon must exactly match the energy difference between the two states. The energy, E, of a photon is related to its frequency, ,
by Plank's constant (h = 6.626x10-34 J
s).
In NMR and MRI, the quantity is called the resonance frequency and the Larmor frequency.
The energy of the two spin states can be represented by an energy level diagram.
We have seen that =
B and E = h , therefore the energy of the photon
needed to cause a transition between the two spin states is
B When the energy of the photon matches the energy difference between the two spin states an absorption of energy occurs. 
In the NMR experiment, the frequency of the photon is in the radio frequency (RF) range. In NMR spectroscopy,
is between 60 and 800 MHz for hydrogen nuclei. In clinical MRI, is typically between 15 and 80 MHz for hydrogen imaging.
The simplest NMR experiment is the continuous wave (CW) experiment. There are two ways of performing this experiment. In the first, a constant frequency, which is continuously on, probes the energy levels while the magnetic field is varied. The energy of this frequency is represented by the blue line in the energy level diagram.
The CW experiment can also be performed with a constant magnetic field and a frequency which is varied. The magnitude of the constant magnetic field is represented by the position of the vertical blue line in the energy level diagram.
When a group of spins is placed in a magnetic field, each spin aligns in one of the two possible orientations.
At room temperature, the number of spins in the lower energy level, N+, slightly outnumbers the number in the upper level, N-. Boltzmann statistics tells us that
E is the energy difference between the spin states; k is Boltzmann's constant, 1.3805x10-23 J/Kelvin; and T is the temperature in Kelvin.
As the temperature decreases, so does the ratio N-/N+. As the temperature increases, the ratio approaches one.
The signal in NMR spectroscopy results from the difference between the energy absorbed by the spins which make a transition from the lower energy state to the higher energy state, and the energy emitted by the spins which simultaneously make a transition from the higher energy state to the lower energy state. The signal is thus proportional to the population difference between the states. NMR is a rather sensitive spectroscopy since it is capable of detecting these very small population differences. It is the resonance, or exchange of energy at a specific frequency between the spins and the spectrometer, which gives NMR its sensitivity.
It is worth noting at this time two other factors which influence the MRI signal: the natural abundance of the isotope and biological abundance. The natural abundance of an isotope is the fraction of nuclei having a given number of protons and neutrons, or atomic weight. For example, there are three isotopes of hydrogen, 1H, 2H, and 3H. The natural abundance of 1H is 99.985%. The following table lists the natural abundances of some nuclei studied by MRI.
| Element | Symbol | Natural Abundance
|
|---|---|---|
| Hydrogen | 1H | 99.985 |
| 2H | 0.015 | |
| Carbon | 13C | 1.11 |
| Nitrogen | 14N | 99.63 |
| 15N | 0.37 | |
| Sodium | 23Na | 100 |
| Phosphorus | 31P | 100 |
| Potassium | 39K | 93.1 |
| Calcium | 43Ca | 0.145 |
The biological abundance is the fraction of one type of atom in the human body. The following table lists the biological abundances of some nuclei studied by MRI.
| Element | Biological Abundance* |
|---|---|
| Hydrogen (H) | 0.63 |
| Sodium (Na) | 0.00041 |
| Phosphorus (P) | 0.0024 |
| Carbon (C) | 0.094 |
| Oxygen (O) | 0.26 |
| Calcium (Ca) | 0.0022 |
| Nitrogen (N) | 0.015 |
.
It is cumbersome to describe NMR on a microscopic scale. A macroscopic picture is more convenient. The first step in developing the macroscopic picture is to define the spin packet. A spin packet is a group of spins experiencing the same magnetic field strength. In this example, the spins
within each grid section represent a spin packet.
At any instant in time, the magnetic field due to the spins in each spin packet can be represented by a magnetization vector.
The size of each vector is proportional to (N+ - N-).
The vector sum of the magnetization vectors from all of the spin packets is the net magnetization. In order to describe pulsed NMR is necessary from here on to talk in terms of the net magnetization.
Adapting the conventional NMR coordinate system, the external
magnetic field and the net magnetization vector at equilibrium are both
along the Z axis.
At equilibrium, the net magnetization vector lies along the direction of the applied magnetic field Bo and is called the equilibrium magnetization Mo. In this configuration, the Z component of magnetization MZ equals Mo. MZ is referred to as the longitudinal magnetization. There is no transverse (MX or MY) magnetization here.
It is possible to change the net magnetization by exposing the nuclear spin system to energy of a frequency equal to the energy difference
between the spin states. If enough energy is put into the system, it is
possible to saturate the spin system and make MZ=0.
The time constant which describes how MZ returns to its equilibrium value is called the spin lattice relaxation time (T1). The equation governing this behavior as a function of the time t after its displacement is:
T1 is therefore defined as the time required to change the Z component of magnetization by a factor of e.
If the net magnetization is placed along the -Z axis, it will gradually return to its equilibrium position along the +Z axis at a rate governed by T1.
The equation governing this behavior as a function of the time t after
its displacement is:
The spin-lattice relaxation time (T1)is the time to reduce the difference between the longitudinal magnetization (MZ) and its equilibrium value by a factor of e.
If the net magnetization is placed in the XY plane
it will rotate about the Z axis at a frequency equal to the frequency of
the photon which would cause a transition between the two energy levels
of the spin. This frequency is called the Larmor frequency.
In addition to the rotation, the net magnetization starts to dephase because each of the spin packets making it up is experiencing a slightly different magnetic field and rotates at its own Larmor frequency. The longer the
elapsed time, the greater the phase difference. Here the net magnetization
vector is initially along +Y. For this and all dephasing examples think
of this vector as the overlap of several thinner vectors from the individual
spin packets.
The time constant which describes the return to equilibrium of the transverse magnetization, MXY, is called the spin-spin relaxation time, T2.
T2 is always less than or equal to T1.
The net magnetization in the XY plane goes to zero and then the longitudinal
magnetization grows in until we have Mo
along Z.
Any transverse magnetization behaves the same way.
The transverse component rotates about the direction of applied magnetization
and dephases. T1 governs the rate of recovery
of the longitudinal magnetization.
In summary, the spin-spin relaxation time, T2, is the time to reduce the transverse magnetization by a factor of e. In the previous sequence, T2 and T1 processes are shown separately for clarity. That is, the magnetization vectors are shown filling the XY plane completely before growing back up along the Z axis. Actually, both processes occur simultaneously with the only restriction being that T2 is less than or equal to T1.
Two factors contribute to the decay of transverse magnetization.
1) molecular interactions (said to lead to a pure T2 molecular effect)
2) variations in Bo (said to lead to
an inhomogeneous T2 effect
The combination of these two factors is what actually results in the
decay of transverse magnetization. The combined time constant is called
T2 star and is given the symbol T2*. The relationship between the T2 from molecular processes and that from inhomogeneities in the magnetic field is as follows.
We have just looked at the behavior of spins in the laboratory frame of reference. It is convenient to define a rotating frame of reference which rotates about the Z axis at the Larmor frequency. We distinguish this rotating coordinate system from the laboratory system by primes on the X and Y axes, X'Y'.
A magnetization vector rotating at the Larmor frequency in the laboratory frame appears stationary in a frame of reference rotating about
the Z axis. In the rotating frame, relaxation of MZ
magnetization to its equilibrium value looks the same as it did in the
laboratory frame.
A transverse magnetization vector rotating about the Z axis at the same velocity as the rotating frame will appear stationary in the rotating frame. A magnetization vector traveling faster than the rotating frame rotates
clockwise about the Z axis.
A magnetization vector traveling slower than the rotating frame rotates
counter-clockwise about the Z axis .
In a sample there are spin packets traveling faster and slower than the rotating frame. As a consequence, when the mean frequency of the
sample is equal to the rotating frame, the dephasing of MX'Y'
looks like this.
A coil of wire placed around the X axis will provide a magnetic field along the X axis when a direct current is passed through the coil.
An alternating current will produce a magnetic field which alternates in
direction.
In a frame of reference rotating about the Z axis at a frequency equal to that of the alternating current, the magnetic field along the
X' axis will be constant, just as in the direct current case in the laboratory
frame.
This is the same as moving the coil about the rotating frame coordinate system at the Larmor Frequency. In magnetic resonance, the magnetic field created by the coil passing an alternating current at the Larmor frequency is called the B1 magnetic field. When the alternating current through the coil is turned on and off, it creates a pulsed B1 magnetic field along the X' axis.
The spins respond to this pulse in such a way as to cause the net magnetization vector to rotate about the direction of the applied B1
field. The rotation angle depends on the length of time the field is on, 
,
and its magnitude B1.
= 2
B1.
In our examples, will be assumed to be much smaller than T1 and T2.
A 90o pulse is one which rotates the magnetization vector clockwise by 90 degrees about the X' axis. A 90o
pulse rotates the equilibrium magnetization down to the Y' axis.
In the laboratory frame the equilibrium magnetization spirals down around
the Z axis to the XY plane.
You can see why the rotating frame of reference is helpful in describing
the behavior of magnetization in response to a pulsed magnetic field.
A 180o pulse will rotate the magnetization vector by 180 degrees. A 180o pulse rotates the equilibrium magnetization down to along the -Z axis.
The net magnetization at any orientation will behave according to the rotation equation. For example, a net magnetization vector along the Y' axis will end up along the -Y' axis when acted upon by a 180o
pulse of B1 along the X' axis.
A net magnetization vector between X' and Y' will end up between X' and Y' after the application of a 180o pulse of B1 applied along the X' axis.
A rotation matrix (described as a coordinate transformation in Chapter 2) can also
be used to predict the result of a rotation. Here
is the rotation angle about the X' axis, [X', Y', Z] is the initial
location of the vector, and [X", Y", Z"] the location of the vector
after the rotation.
Motions in solution which result in time varying magnetic fields cause spin relaxation.
Time varying fields at the Larmor frequency cause transitions
between the spin states and hence a change in MZ. This screen depicts the field at the green hydrogen on the water molecule as it rotates about the external field Bo
and a magnetic field from the blue hydrogen.
Note that the field experienced at the green hydrogen is sinusoidal.
There is a distribution of rotation frequencies in a sample of molecules. Only frequencies at the Larmor frequency affect T1.
Since the Larmor frequency is proportional to Bo,
T1 will therefore vary as a function of
magnetic field strength.
In general, T1 is inversely proportional
to the density of molecular motions at the Larmor frequency.
The rotation frequency distribution depends on the temperature
and viscosity of the solution. Therefore T1
will vary as a function of temperature.
At the Larmor frequency indicated by o,
T1 (280 K ) < T1
(340 K). The temperature of the human body does not vary by enough to cause
a significant influence on T1. The viscosity
does however vary significantly from tissue to tissue and influences T1
as is seen in the following molecular motion plot.
Fluctuating fields which perturb the energy levels of the spin states cause the transverse magnetization to dephase. This can be seen by examining
the plot of Bo experienced by the red hydrogens
on the following water molecule.
The number of molecular motions less than and equal to the Larmor frequency
is inversely proportional to T2.
In general, relaxation times get longer as Bo increases because there are fewer relaxation-causing frequency components present in the random motions of the molecules.
The Bloch equations are a set of coupled differential equations which can be used to describe the behavior of a magnetizatiion vector under any conditions.
When properly integrated, the Bloch equations will yield the X', Y', and
Z components of magnetization as a function of time.
Copyright © 1996-2000 J.P. Hornak.
All Rights Reserved.