The Physics of

MRI Scanners

By: Connie Quan

First Period Physics
An MRI Scanner is a device shaped like a donut hole that
scans parts, or the entirety, of the human body using
magnetic fields and frequencies that form into images.
These images can then be put together and used to
create diagnoses for the patient.
 Before the procedure, patients must take off any metal
accessories because the strong magnetic field of the MRI
scanner could fling them off and disrupt the space. Patients
with metal braces in their bodies are not recommended to do
an MRI scan for the same reason that it could damage
anything that can magnetized.
 When the platform lifts the patient into the machine,
various layers of the MRI begin to work. The circular part of
the machine consists of strong magnets, gradient coils, and
radio frequency coils.
 The Magnets
The magnets used in a MRI scanner are
typically superconducting magnets, meaning
that they’re electromagnets wrapped tightly
in coils that have to stay at very low
temperatures to minimize resistance in the
wires. When current runs through the
machine, a strong magnetic field is produced
from the tube in the middle.
In order for the magnet to become superconductive, it has to be
constantly drenched in liquid Helium to eliminate the wire
resistance. That way, a large amount of current can flow through
to produce a very strong magnetic field. Another advantage to
this cooling method is that once the current source is applied, it
can be taken out and still have the magnet running. With the low
temperature, the existing current in the magnet coil stays in a
loop “forever” without the need of the source to power it.
 Magnetic Field Effect
Once the magnetic field is present, it affects the
atoms in our body. More specifically, Hydrogen
atoms that each have their own magnetic poles.
The atoms are like magnetic domains in a
regular metal object that can be magnetized but
aren’t. They are rotating and spinning in all
different positions, much like scattered magnetic
domains.
However, once the magnetic field reaches
the protons of the Hydrogen atom, they
immediately align with the direction of the
field (towards the head or feet), much like
how magnetic domains face a certain
direction when magnetized.
 The Movement of the Atoms
The ones pointing down are
labeled as low energy protons
because they use less energy
and choose to follow the same
direction of the magnetic field.

There are always more small

While the magnetic field goes from
top to bottom (green arrows), the
Hydrogen protons line themselves up
either with the fields (downwards) or
against the fields (upwards).
The ones pointing up are high
energy protons, meaning they
go against the magnetic field
and use more energy to do so.
portions of protons going with the
magnetic field (low energy) than
against. These are the ones that
are important for the imaging
process since the others cancel out
(low+high=canceled out).
 Radio Frequency (RF) Coils
When the RF pulse is turned on, the
hydrogen protons with low energy
that are not canceled out react to it
by absorbing the energy the pulse
sends out. This makes the low energy
protons turn into high energy
protons, causing them to flip over.
RF coils are the inner coils that emit a
certain frequency in pulses towards
the body in the process of making the
images. The MRI machine applies
current to this coil and causes it to
form quick changing magnetic fields.
 RF Receivers

What happens next is that the RF
pulse is turned off. When that
occurs, the newly moved high
energy protons start to release the
energy that was given to them and
turn back into low energy protons.
The MRI machine has a RF receiver
coil that takes those energy signals
and converts them into current
signals that is then sent to a
computer for imaging.
 Gradient Coils
Like their name, gradient coils are
responsible for creating a gradient
magnetic field, which means one end of
the body has a stronger magnetic field
than the other end. This is important for
scanning certain parts of the body. A
stronger magnetic field means a stronger
resonant frequency (the frequency that For example, when the gradient is set to
Gradient coils are the layers after affects only hydrogen atoms) needs to be have the upper body area atoms (A) with
the main magnet. They are applied and vice versa. a stronger magnetic field while the lower
body atoms (B) has a weaker field, the
responsible for altering the
frequency the RF coil emits is lowered in
magnetic field so that it can be
order to target only the B atoms for a
used to map out different views of
lower body image. The A atoms don’t
the area. respond to the low signal and only the B
atom receives/sends a signal back.

Like this, the RF frequency is changed to

accommodate different parts of the body
and magnetic fields.
 Signal Interpretation

The machine repeats the RF pulse and RF receive process until the required parts
of the body are all determined by signal. When the computer receives the signal,
it interprets it by coloring it with a shade of black, grey, or white. MRI scans can
distinguish different tissues and bones of the body with many shades of these
colors to create the image. It can differentiate between, for example, fat and
water by looking at how long the independent high energy atoms turn back into
low energy atoms. This timespan is called “Relaxation” and it is what tells apart
different organs since they each have their own unique signal and time. Denser
tissues are typically shaded lighter and less dense tissues are shaded darker.

At the end of the process, you get an image like this that medical professionals
can use to diagnose conditions and abnormalities. Spinal Cord (Herniated Disc)