Andreas Pfrommer, PhD Student
Hometown: Tuebingen, Germany
Affiliation: MPI for Biological Cybernetics, Magnetic Resonance Center
What are you working on?
I am working on
novel concepts for radiofrequency antennas that are used in
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at ultra-high magnetic field
strength. The antenna transmits and receives electromagnetic waves
that interact with the protons of the human body. This allows us to
acquire a highly resolved image of the human anatomy without any
hazardous ionizing radiation. With the help of electromagnetic
simulations I try to optimize the geometry of the antenna to
exploit all the benefits of the ultra-high field strength.
How are you going to find out?
To build an optimized antenna for MRI I need to know the pattern of
the electromagnetic field that is radiated by the antenna in the
presence of the human body. For this purpose I work with
electromagnetic simulations that solve the underlying physical
equations and visualize the field pattern. This is a complex
computationally intensive task and can take up to several days even
on a powerful computer.
Why is it interesting?
The magnet in our scanner is one of the five strongest whole-body
magnets in the entire world. It creates a magnetic field that is
about 200,000 times higher than the earths magnetic field in
Stuttgart and three to six times higher than on clinical scanners.
I find it fascinating to work with new technology and to enter
unknown territory.
Your favorite thing outside of
science?
To keep the balance between between
body and mind I enjoy cycling a lot. Being outside on the bike
gives me the opportunity to relax and look at different landscapes.
President Kennedy already experienced: Nothing compares to the
simple pleasure of riding a bike.