Rainer Eckart

Fundamentals and applications of magnetic particle imaging

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is a new medical imaging technique which performs a direct measurement of magnetic nanoparticles, also known as superparamagnetic iron oxide. MPI can acquire quantitative images of the local distribution of the magnetic material with high spatial and temporal resolution. Its sensitivity is well above that of other methods used for the detection and quantification of magnetic materials, for example, magnetic resonance imaging. On the basis of an intravenous injection of magnetic particles, MPI has the potential to play an important role in medical application areas such as cardiovascular, oncology, and also in exploratory fields such as cell labeling and tracking. Here, we present an introduction to the basic function principle of MPI, together with an estimation of the spatial resolution and the detection limit. Furthermore, the above-mentioned medical applications are discussed with respect to an applicability of MPI.

Human PNS and SAR study in the frequency range from 24 to 162 kHz

In order to identify suitable operating conditions for future clinical Magnetic Particle Imaging, peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) and specific absorption rate (SAR) experiments have been performed by exposing volunteers to sinusoidally time-varying magnetic fields along and transverse to the body axis at frequencies from 24 kHz to 162 kHz. The findings show that future clinical MPI can advantageously be performed at elevated drive-field frequencies, with PNS restriction actually relaxed at higher frequencies, and with still acceptable SAR exposure.

A multi-layer process for the fabrication of HTSC flux transformers and SQUIDS

A multi-layer technology, based on YBaCuO as the superconducting material and SrTiO3 as the insulating material, is described. Patterning is performed by photolithography and Ar-ion-beam etching under fiat incidence. Using a resist bake-out prior to the etching, step angles in the patterned lower film of less than 20 degrees are obtained. Superconducting 10-turn thin-film coils have been fabricated with transition temperatures of up to 83 K and critical current densities at 77 K of 2*105 A cm-2. Furthermore we have fabricated a thin-film flux transformer and combined it in flip-chip configuration with a low-noise YBCO step-edge DC SQUID. We measured a magnetic field resolution of the complete magnetometer of 200 fT Hz-1/2 at 1 Hz, dominated by the SQUID noise itself.

Liquid-metal anode x-ray tube

A novel type of electron-impact x-ray source based on the interaction of energetic electrons with a turbulently flowing liquid metal target is presented. The electrons enter the liquid through a thin (several microns thick) window, separating the liquid from the vacuum region in which the cathode is situated. Several electron window materials including diamond, tungsten and molybdenum were tested in combination with the liquid metal GaInSn. Satisfactory agreement has been obtained between the predictions of thermal transport models and the measured dependence of the loadability on fluid velocity. The liquid metal technology appears to represent a significant improvement in continuous loadability relative to stationary anode x-ray tubes.

Low noise operation of integrated YBa2Cu3O7 magnetometers in static magnetic fields

The noise of two integrated YBa2Cu3O7-SrTiO3-YBa2Cu3O7 multilayer magnetometers in static magnetic fields up to 110 μT is investigated: An inductively coupled magnetometer with integrated flux transformer and a multiloop magnetometer. In both samples, only a moderate increase of the low frequency flux noise is found in high fields, due to the high epitaxial quality of the involved multilayer films. So for moderately shielded or unshielded applications in the earth’s magnetic field, high-quality integrated YBa2Cu3O7 magnetometers can be operated with low excess noise.

High- SQUID magnetometers for biomagnetic measurements

We have designed and fabricated three types of high- SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) magnetometers based on step-edge Josephson junctions using three different concepts of coupling magnetic flux into the SQUID: (i) a single pickup loop galvanically coupled to the SQUID, (ii) a flux transformer inductively coupled to the SQUID and (iii) a multiloop pickup loop used directly as the SQUID inductance. On a substrate we achieved an effective flux capture area of and for the inductively coupled and multiloop devices, respectively. Due to the low white noise levels of for the inductively coupled magnetometer and for the multiloop device high quality magnetocardiograms were recorded inside a magnetically shielded room without signal averaging.

DESIGN PARAMETERS FOR CRYOGENIC THERMOSYPHONS

Cryogenic thermosyphons are the thermal conductors of choice for a variety of applications such as conduction-cooled superconducting devices. They exhibit a small effective thermal resistance at small cross-sections. A careful design, however, is crucial to ensure sufficient heat transport for all possible heatloads. The aim of this work is to obtain experimental results on critical limitations and the effective thermal conductivity dependent on the length, the cross-sectional area, and the working liquid fill level of a thermosyphon for different heatloads. For the experiments, a modular thermosyphon was designed with 5 different adiabatic tubes of length [cm]/cross-sectional diameter [cm] 10/1, 10/2, 30/0.5, 30/1, 30/2, which can be mounted between condenser and evaporator. The thermosyphon was operated with different fill levels of either nitrogen or neon and different heatloads. The effective thermal conductivity between condenser and evaporator was determined, dependent on the design parameters menti...

Monte Carlo simulation and experimental investigation of x-ray spectra from very thin metal layers on diamond substrates

We used the Monte Carlo code EGSnrc to simulate electron energy loss profiles as well as angle resolved x-ray spectra for metal-layer/substrate combinations in the primary electron energy range of 60-160 keV. We were furthermore able to separate the bremsstrahlung fraction originating in the substrate from that of the metal layer. The simulations were accompanied by experimental investigations. High-energetic electrons of 60-160 keV were directed onto 1-2 μm thin tungsten layers on top of 500 μm diamond substrates. The spectra were recorded by an energy resolved detector positioned in backward direction. We compared the experimental data with the simulation results and found good agreement. An enhanced monochromaticity in backward direction however, as expected from thin film theory, has not been observed due to the influence of the substrate.

Modeling and experimental investigation of x-ray spectra from a liquid metal anode x-ray tube

This paper presents simulated and measured spectra of a novel type of x-ray tube. The bremsstrahlung generating principle of this tube is based on the interaction of high energetic electrons with a turbulently flowing liquid metal separated from the vacuum by a thin window. We simulated the interaction of 50-150 keV electrons with liquid metal targets composed of the elements Ga, In, Sn, as well as the solid elements C, W and Re used for the electron windows. We obtained x-ray spectra and energy loss curves for various liquid metal/window combinations and thicknesses of the window material. In terms of optimum heat transport a thin diamond window in combination with the liquid metal GaInSn is the best suited system. If photon flux is the optimization criteria, thin tungsten/rhenium windows cooled by GaInSn should be preferred.