SBIR Phase II: Multi-Coil Surface NMR Instrumentation and Software for 3-D Groundwater Imaging

SBIR第二阶段研究计划旨在开发用于地下水三维成像和表征的商用多线圈磁共振探测（MRS）系统。主要的创新是使用多线圈阵列和相干信号处理方法的发展来重建三维图像。通过计算机仿真、分析和获取实验（极低信噪比）多线圈核磁共振数据，证实了该系统概念的可行性。现在建议设计和组装一个现场规模的多线圈MRS原型仪器，表面线圈直径约为50-100米，并与美国地质调查局和一家地下水咨询公司一起对该原型进行广泛的现场测试。这种多线圈MRS系统在空间分辨率（3-D与1-D）和灵敏度（有效信噪比）上至少提高了一个数量级。在发展中世界，无法充分获得清洁、安全和可靠的饮用水是导致疾病的一个主要原因。对地下水资源的获取不足以及对地下水使用的长期影响的认识不足，对包括美国在内的许多发达国家的经济和农业发展构成了根本性的限制。作为一种廉价、低能耗、非侵入性的地下水勘探方法，该技术将对世界卫生、自然资源管理和经济发展产生重大的积极影响。

This SBIR Phase II research proposal aims to develop a commercial multi-Coil Magnetic Resonance Sounding (MRS) system for 3-D groundwater imaging and characterization. The principal innovations are the use of multi-coil arrays and the development of coherent signal processing methods to reconstruct 3-D images. The feasibility of this system concept through computer simulation, analysis, and by acquiring experimental (very low SNR) multi-coil NMR data has been established. It is now proposed to design and assemble a field-scale multi-coil MRS prototype instrument with surface coil diameters on the order of 50-100 meters, and to field test this prototype extensively with the U.S. Geological Survey and a groundwater -consulting firm. This multi-coil MRS system enables a critical performance improvement in the area of spatial resolution (3-D vs. 1-D) and at least an order of magnitude improvement in sensitivity (effective SNR).Inadequate access to clean, safe, and reliable sources of drinking water is a primary cause of disease in the developing world. Inadequate access to groundwater resources, and inadequate understanding of the long-term effects of groundwater use, pose fundamental limitations on economic and agricultural development in much of the developed world, including the United States. As an inexpensive, low-energy, and non-invasive groundwater exploration method, the proposed technology could have significant positive impacts on world health, natural resource management, and economic development.