The Impact of Finite RF Excitation on Steady State Free Precession

Oliver Bieri¹, Klaus Scheffler¹

For quantitative imaging a detailed understanding of the pulse sequences signal behavior is of fundamental importance. Although SSFP signal theory is based on the concept of instantaneous radio-frequency (RF) rotation, and thus being in contradiction to any real sequence implementation, SSFP theory is generally well-accepted and unquestioned. To clear things up, SSFP signal behavior for finite RF pulses is analyzed.