In
this work we investigated differences in the ultimate SNR in a realistic human
head model for two configurations with the RF array elements distributed on either
a cylindrical or a spherical holder. The basis set of solutions in our approach
was created by vector cylindrical and spherical harmonics, which are known to
form a complete set of eigenfunctions to Maxwell’s equations in free-space.
Assuming both surfaces have the same radius, the spherical geometry yielded higher
SNR in grey and white matter compared to the cylindrical one. Moreover it
allowed higher acceleration factors with the same g-factors.
