(MR) Resonance phenomenon resulting in the absorption and/or emission of electromagnetic energy by nuclei (for that reason also nuclear magnetic resonance) or electrons in a static magnetic field, after excitation by a suitable RF magnetic field.
The peakresonance frequency is proportional to the magnetic field, and is given by the Larmor equation. Only unpaired electrons or nuclei with a spin exhibit magnetic resonance. The absorption or emission of energy by atomic nuclei in an external magnetic field after the application of RF excitation pulses using frequencies, which satisfy the conditions of the Larmor equation.
The magnetic resonance phenomenon may be used in one of these ways:
By manipulation of the external field (application of gradient fields), the resonance frequency can become dependent on spatial location, and hence images may be generated (MRI).
The effect of the electron cloud in any atom or molecule is to slightly shield the nucleus from the external field, thus giving any chemical species a characteristic frequency. This gives rise to 'spectra' where nuclei in a molecule give rise to specific signals, thus facilitating the detection of individual chemicals by means of their frequencyspectra (MRS)
The frequency at which the resonance phenomenon occurs. The resonancefrequency is given by the Larmor equation for MRI and is determined by the inductance and capacitance for RF circuits. An atom will only absorb external energy if that energy is delivered at precisely it's resonant frequency.
The Larmor equation states that the resonancefrequency of a magnetic nucleus (the radio frequency needed to excite a nucleus to the higher spin rate) is directly proportional to the magnetic environment it experiences. Atoms such as hydrogen-1 (1H) and phosporous-31 (31P) resonate at different Larmor radio frequencies because of differences in the magnetic properties of their nuclei. The resonancefrequency at 1.5 T for 31P is 25.85 MHz, for 1H, 63.86 MHz.