LOW-FIELD MRI OF LASER POLARIZED NOBLE-GAS

NMR images of laser polarized He-3 gas were obtained at 21 G using a s imple, homebuilt instrument. At such low fields magnetic resonance ima ging (MRI) of thermally polarized samples (e.g., water) is not practic al. Low-field noble gas MRI has novel scientific, engineering, and med ical applications. Examples include portable systems for diagnosis of lung disease, as well as imaging of voids in porous media and within m etallic systems. [S0031-9007(98)07442-0].