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Abstract
This paper gives an overview of SIMRI, a new 3D MRI simulator based on the Bloch equation.
This simulator proposes an efficient management of the T2* effect, and in a unique
simulator integrates most of the simulation features that are offered in different
simulators. It takes into account the main static field value and enables realistic
simulations of the chemical shift artifact, including off-resonance phenomena. It
also simulates the artifacts linked to the static field inhomogeneity like those induced
by susceptibility variation within an object. It is implemented in the C language
and the MRI sequence programming is done using high level C functions with a simple
programming interface. To manage large simulations, the magnetization kernel is implemented
in a parallelized way that enables simulation on PC grid architecture. Furthermore,
this simulator includes a 1D interactive interface for pedagogic purpose illustrating
the magnetization vector motion as well as the MRI contrasts.