(FAIR) In this sequence 2 inversion recovery images are acquired, one with a nonselective and the other with a slice selective inversion pulse. The z-magnetization in the first sequence is independent of flow. Inflowing spins give z-magnetization from second pulse. A major signal loss in FAIR is the T1 relaxation of tagged blood in transit to the imaging slice. Sharper edges of the inversion pulse give narrow spacing between the inversion edge and the 1st slice because reduced transit time gives lower T1 relaxation induced signal loss. The difference of the images in a consequence contains information proportional to flow (blood partition coefficient). Standard adiabatic inversion RF pulse does not have good slice-profile, because of power/SAR limitation. A c-shaped frequency offset corrected inversion (FOCI) RF pulse can help to increase the signal.
Perfusion imaging, e.g. myocardial, using tissue water as endogenous contrast is suggested.

(IRSE) Form of inversion recovery imaging in which the signal is detected as a spin echo. For TE short compared to the T2 relaxation time, there will be only a small effect of T2 differences on image intensities; for longer TE's, the effect of T2 may be significant.

(MP-GRE / MPRAGE / MP-RAGE) A fast 3D gradient echo pulse sequence using a magnetization preparation pulse like TurboFLASH. Only one segment or partition of a 3D data record is obtained per inversion preparation pulse. After the acquisition, for all rows a delay time (TD) is used to prevent saturation effects.
MPRAGE is designed for rapid acquisition with T1 weighted dominance. Fast gradient echoes are characterized by their rapid sampling time, high signal intensity and image contrast while approaching steady state (the echo is collected during the time when tissues are experiencing T1 relaxation). The rapid speed of the acquisition makes it an excellent alternative to breath-hold abdominal imaging, neuro, dynamic bolus, MR angiography and cardiac imaging.

See Gradient Echo Sequence.

(PFI) A flip angle of less than 90° only partially converts the z-magnetization, leaving a fraction cos a along the longitudinal direction. A flip angle of 90° converts all the z-magnetization into xy-magnetization.
When the repetition time is shorter than T1, the use of a partial flip angle can lead to higher signal intensity. The maximum signal intensity is given by the Ernst angle. For spin echo pulse sequences using an odd number of 180° pulses, an effect similar to the use of a partial flip angle is obtained by using a flip angle greater than 90° to offset the inversion of the remaining longitudinal magnetization by the 180° pulse.

(SEMS) This pulse sequence is composed of a 90° RF pulse followed by a 180° refocusing pulse. Both RF pulses are applied in the presence of a slice select gradient.
By choosing of different TR and TE, depending on the T1 and T2 values of the tissues, proton density, T1 weighted and T2 weighted images can be acquired.
The inversion recovery option enlarge the RF pulses with a 180° inverting pulse, applied a TI time before the beginning of the pulse sequence in order to manipulate image contrast.
See also Spin Echo Sequence.