2D-FT MR- Imaging and related Nobel awards

Two-dimensional Fourier transform imaging

A two-dimensional Fourier transform (2D-FT) is computed numerically or carried out in two stages, both involving `standard', one-dimensional Fourier transforms. However, the second stage Fourier transform is not the inverse Fourier transform (which would result in the original function that was transformed at the first stage), but a Fourier transform in a second variable- which is `shifted' in value- relative to that involved in the result of the first Fourier transform. Such 2D-FT analysis is a very powerful method for three-dimensional reconstruction of polymer and biopolymer structures by two-dimensional Nuclear Magnetic resonance (2D-FT NMR , [1]) of solutions for molecular weights ($ M_w$ ) of the dissolved polymers up to about 50,000 $ M_w$ . For larger biopolymers or polymers, more complex methods have been developed to obtain the desired resolution needed for the 3D-reconstruction of higher molecular structures, e.g. for $ 900,000 M_w$ , methods that can also be utilized in vivo. The 2D-FT method is also widely utilized in optical spectroscopy, such as 2D-FT NIR Hyperspectral Imaging, or in MRI imaging for research and clinical, diagnostic applications in Medicine.

A more precise mathematical definition of the `double' Fourier transform involved is specified next, and a precise example follows the definition.

Definition 0.1   A 2D-FT, or two-dimensional Fourier transform, is a standard Fourier transformation of a function of two variables, $ f(x_1, x_2)$ , carried first in the first variable $ x_1$ , followed by the Fourier transform in the second variable $ x_2$ of the resulting function $ F(s_1, x_2)$ . (For further specific details and example for 2D-FT Imaging v. URLs provided in the following recent Bibliography).

Example 0.1 A 2D Fourier transformation and phase correction is applied to a set of 2D NMR (FID) signals $ s(t_1, t_2)$ yielding a real 2D-FT NMR `spectrum' (collection of 1D FT-NMR spectra) represented by a matrix $ S$ whose elements are

$\displaystyle S(\nu_1,\nu_2) = \textbf{Re} \int \int cos(\nu_1 t_1)exp^{(-i\nu_2 t_2)} s(t_1, t_2)dt_1 dt_2,$

where $ \nu_1$ and $ \nu_2$ denote the discrete indirect double-quantum and single-quantum(detection) axes, respectively, in the 2D NMR experiments. Next, the covariance matrix is calculated in the frequency domain according to the following equation:

$\displaystyle C(\nu_2', \nu_2) = S^T S = \sum_{\nu^1}[S(\nu_1,\nu_2')S(\nu_1,\nu_2)],$

with $ \nu_2, \nu_2'$ taking all possible single-quantum frequency values and with the summation carried out over all discrete, double quantum frequencies $ \nu_1$ .

Example 0.2

Atomic structure reconstruction by 2D-FT of STEM Images(obtained at Cornell University) reveals the electron distributions in a high-temperature cuprate superconductor `paracrystal'; both the domains (or `location') and the local symmetry of the “pseudo-gap” are seen in the electron-pair correlation band responsible for the high-temperature superconductivity effect .

Remarks

So far there have been three Nobel prizes awarded for 2D-FT NMR/MRI during 1992-2003, and an additional, earlier Nobel prize for 2D-FT of X-ray data (`CAT scans'); recently the advanced possibilities of 2D-FT techniques in Chemistry, Physiology and Medicine received very significant recognition.

Bibliography

1
Kurt Wütrich: 1986, NMR of Proteins and Nucleic Acids., J. Wiley and Sons: New York, Chichester, Brisbane, Toronto, Singapore. (Nobel Laureate in 2002 for 2D-FT NMR Studies of Structure and Function of Biological Macromolecules); 2D-FT NMR Instrument Image Example: a JPG color image of a 2D-FT NMR Imaging `monster' Instrument

2
Richard R. Ernst. 1992. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Fourier Transform (2D-FT) Spectroscopy. Nobel Lecture, on December 9, 1992.

3
Peter Mansfield. 2003. Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine for (2D and 3D) MRI.

4
D. Benett. 2007. PhD Thesis. Worcester Polytechnic Institute. (lots of 2D-FT images of mathematical, brain scans.) PDF of 2D-FT Imaging Applications to MRI in Medical Research.

5
Paul Lauterbur. 2003. Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine for (2D and 3D) MRI.

6
Jean Jeener. 1971. Two-dimensional Fourier Transform NMR, presented at an Ampere International Summer School, Basko Polje, unpublished. A verbatim quote follows from Richard R. Ernst's Nobel Laureate Lecture delivered on December 2nd, 1992, ``A new approach to measure two-dimensional (2D) spectra has been proposed by Jean Jeener at an Ampère Summer School in Basko Polje, Yugoslavia, 1971 ([6]). He suggested a 2D Fourier transform experiment consisting of two $ \pi/2$ pulses with a variable time $ t_1$ between the pulses and the time variable $ t_2$ measuring the time elapsed after the second pulse as shown in Fig. 6 that expands the principles of Fig. 1. Measuring the response $ s(t_1,t_2)$ of the two-pulse sequence and Fourier-transformation with respect to both time variables produces a two-dimensional spectrum $ S(O_1,O_2)$ of the desired form. This two-pulse experiment by Jean Jeener is the forefather of a whole class of $ 2D$ experiments that can also easily be expanded to multidimensional spectroscopy.''

7
A 2D-FT NMRI article and Spectroscopy.

8
Cardiac infarct movies by 2D-FT NMR Imaging



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