Self-refocused slice selection by magic echo DANTE with 270 degrees flipping Gaussian RF modulation.

The method of slice selection proposed for solid-state MRI by combining DANTE selective excitation with magic echo (ME) line narrowing requires a rephasing period ca. 0.6 times the DANTE excitation period. The added rephasing period results in a significant loss of sensitivity due to transverse relaxation. To solve the sensitivity problem, we make use of the self-refocusing effect of the 270 degrees Gaussian-shaped soft pulse by introducing a 270 degrees flipping Gaussian modulation to the ME DANTE method. This eliminates the rephasing period. The utility of the improved method is demonstrated by experiments performed on test samples of adamantane and polycarbonate.

Tailored slice selection in solid-state MRI by DANTE under magic-echo line narrowing.

We propose a method of slice selection in solid-state MRI by combining DANTE selective excitation with magic-echo (ME) line narrowing. The DANTE RF pulses applied at the ME peaks practically do not interfere with the ME line narrowing in the combined ME DANTE sequence. This allows straightforward tailoring of the slice profile simply by introducing an appropriate modulation, such as a sinc modulation, into the flip angles of the applied DANTE RF pulses. The utility of the method has been demonstrated by preliminary experiments performed on a test sample of adamantane.