A new method for estimating T2 distributions from NMR measurements

A semi-continuous relaxation model is constructed using sums of gamma functions and non-negative least squares for the inversion of Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill (CPMG) echo data. No regularization is necessary for this approach, and yet the solution is stable even with noisy data. Test results derived from 60 echo trains are presented. Computational advantages of the method are presented.