MRI with Zero Echo Time: Hard Versus Sweep Pulse Excitation

Markus Weiger^1,2, Klaas Paul Pruessmann², Franciszek Hennel³

Zero echo time (TE) is achieved in an MRI sequence when the readout gradient is already on during the excitation. 3D radial techniques designed in this way have been proposed using either a hard pulse excitation or a pulse with a frequency sweep, as in the SWIFT technique. The two versions are compared in this work. It is demonstrated that they are equivalent with respect to T2 sensitivity but that the SNR of zero ZE MRI with hard pulse excitation is superior to its sweep pulse counterpart due to the periodical acquisition gapping required in a practical implementation of the latter.