DESIGN OF A BIPLANAR GRADIENT COIL USING A GENETIC ALGORITHM

A biplanar z-gradient coil has been designed using a genetic algorithm , and its efficiency for producing a gradient along the axis of a sole noid magnet compared to that of a conventional Maxwell coil set, Coils of 21.8 cm by 20.9 cm area and 10 cm separation give 0.37 m Tm-1 A(-1 ) with standard and maximum deviations of 2.6 and 13.1% of this value over an optimised cuboid region of 12 by 15 by 1.8 cm, The experimenta lly useable linear volume extends beyond this to 50% of the separation between the planes, Design data are also given for a transverse gradi ent set. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.