Christopher T. Sica with Robert Brown

A Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-based Desktop Imaging System

According to the principles of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), a sample placed in a constant magnetic field and then subsequently exposed to an oscillating magnetic field will respond with a measurable magnetic signal. The goal of this project is to make  the first step in designing a desktop imaging system based on NMR principles. Previous attempts have not been entirely successful,  due in part to a lack of a sufficiently strong magnetic field.  Through the use of a stronger magnet and fast computers, we hope to achieve a stronger signal, and then add a gradient field in order to examine whether we can measure spatial density variations in at least a one-dimensional body. An experiment such as this could be extended ultimately as a portable imaging system, or for use as a research tool.