Ultra high magnetic fields for magnetic resonance imaging: Is it worth it?

Magnetic Resonance Imaging uses the properties of nuclei inside a strong magnetic field. These fields reach strengths of 9.4 Tesla for applications in humans, and more than 20 T for animals. This is due to the increase in signal strength and, correspondingly, in spatial resolution, to the availability of novel contrast mechanisms, and to the more accurate quantification of metabolite concentrations in MR-spectroscopy. Due to the drastically altered physical properties at ultra high field, realizing the full potential of this technology requires the development of novel imaging techniques.