Computation of the signal-to-noise ratio of high-frequency magnetic resonance imagers

A method of computing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in high-frequency mag netic resonance (MR) imaging systems is presented. The method uses a numeri cal solution to Maxwell's equations which can capture all relevant electrod ynamic effects at high B-o-field strengths, Using this method, the intrinsi c SNR of both volume and surface coils loaded with the human head is calcul ated as a function of frequency. It is shown that although the available SN R from any point scales favorably with frequency, phase inhomogeneity over the volume of the head may pose a challenge to achieving improved SNR with traditional imaging techniques at high B-o-fieid strengths.