Computation of the signal-to-noise ratio of high-frequency magnetic resonance imagers

A method of computing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in high-frequency magnetic resonance (MR) imaging systems is presented. The method uses a numerical solution to Maxwell's equations which can capture all relevant electrodynamic effects at high B₀-field strengths. Using this method, the intrinsic SNR of both volume and surface coils loaded with the human head is calculated as a function of frequency. It is shown that although the available SNR from any point scales favorably with frequency, phase inhomogeneity over the volume of the head may pose a challenge to achieving improved SNR with traditional imaging techniques at high B₀-fieid strengths.