Modelling Non-Gaussian 3He Diffusion Signal Behaviour Using a Fractional Dynamics Approach

Juan Parra-Robles¹, Salma Ajraoui¹, Jim M. Wild¹

Diffusion of 3He gas in the lung has been shown to deviate from Gaussian behaviour. Cylinder model and diffusional kurtosis have been previously used to quantify non-Gaussian signals. In this work the diffusion stretched-exponential model is used as a new approach to model the non-Gaussian behaviour. The results obtained demonstrate that the anomalous diffusion stretched-exponential model fits well the behaviour of the 3He lung MR signal. This model can potentially provide valuable information about lung microstructure at different length scales.