Experimental demonstration of a μ=−1 metamaterial lens for magnetic resonance imaging

In this work a μ=−1 metamaterial (MM) lens for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is demonstrated. MRI uses surface coils to detect the radio frequency (rf) energy absorbed and emitted by the nuclear spins in the imaged object. The proposed MM lens manipulates the rf field detected by these surface coils so that the coil sensitivity and spatial localization are substantially improved. Beyond this specific application, we feel that the reported results are the experimental confirmation of a new concept for the manipulation of rf field in MRI, which paves the way to many other interesting applications.