Abstract
A high frequency solution of the electromagnetic field produced by a circular surface coil adjacend to a homogenous conducting, dielectric sphere is used to predict the attainable signal to noise ratio (S/N) and specific absorption rate (SAR) for in vivo ^1^H NMR spec troscopy experiments from 200 to 430 MHz (4.7β10T). Above 200 MHz the S/N increases more rapidly with frequency and the SAR increases less rapidly compared with the respective S/N and SAR frequency dependence below 200 MHz. The difference in frequency dependence is due to dielectric resonances of the magnetic field inside the sphere at frequencies above 200 MHz. It is predicted that surface coil ^1^H NMR experiments may be performed on a headβsized sphere, having conductivity and relative dielectric constant of brain, at frequencies up to 430 MHz without exceeding 8 W/kg local SAR and 3.2 W/kg SAR. The calculations of the S/N and SAR are used to determine optimum surface coil geometries for NMR experments. The power radited by the surface coil in the absence of shielding and asymmetries in the received signal with respect to the plane defined by the surface coil axix and the direction of the static magnetic field are significant at high frequency. Experimental measurements of the magnetic field inside a headβsized sphere verfy the presence of dielectric resonances at frequencies above 200 MHz. Β© 1991 Academic Press, Inc.