creators_name: Hanson, Lars G.
creators_id: larsh@drcmr.dk
type: article
datestamp: 2008-07-20 14:56:11
lastmod: 2010-04-02 00:05:34
metadata_visibility: show
title: Is Quantum Mechanics necessary for understanding Magnetic Resonance?
ispublished: pub
subjects: I02x903x302
subjects: E01x370x350x500
subjects: J01x897x280x500x480
subjects: H01x671x579x631
full_text_status: public
keywords: magnetic resonance imaging, education, quantum mechanics, classical mechanics, tutorial, spin, myths
note: Additional material and animations can be found at http://www.drcmr.dk/MR
abstract: Educational material introducing magnetic resonance typically contains sections on the underlying principles. Unfortunately the explanations given are often unnecessarily complicated or even wrong. Magnetic resonance is often presented as a phenomenon that necessitates a quantum mechanical explanation whereas it really is a classical effect, i.e. a consequence of the common sense expressed in classical mechanics. This insight is not new, but there have been few attempts to challenge common misleading explanations, so authors and educators are inadvertently keeping myths alive. As a result, new students' first encounters with magnetic resonance are often obscured by explanations that make the subject difficult to understand. Typical problems are addressed and alternative intuitive
explanations are provided.
date: 2008-09-03
date_type: published
publication: Concepts in Magnetic Resonance Part A
volume: 32A
number: 5
publisher: Wiley InterScience
pagerange: 329-340
id_number: 10.1002/cmr.a.20123
refereed: TRUE
issn: 1546-6086
official_url: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121394126/abstract
related_url_url: http://www.drcmr.dk/MR
related_url_url: http://www.drcmr.dk/bloch
related_url_type: author
related_url_type: author
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citation: Hanson, Lars G. (2008) Is Quantum Mechanics necessary for understanding Magnetic Resonance? Concepts in Magnetic Resonance Part A, 32A (5). pp. 329-340. ISSN 1546-6086
document_url: http://eprints.drcmr.dk/22/1/article.pdf
document_url: http://eprints.drcmr.dk/22/2/MagSpherical2crop.jpg
document_url: http://eprints.drcmr.dk/22/3/MagPrecession2.jpg
document_url: http://eprints.drcmr.dk/22/4/MagEquilib2.jpg
document_url: http://eprints.drcmr.dk/22/5/MagRotated2.jpg