An optimal design technique for MRI superconducting magnets using mathematical programming method

An optimal design approach is described for a highly homogeneous coil system used in magnetic resonance imaging. The technique is based on combination of a numerical boundary-element method for analysis of the magnetic-field distribution and a mathematical programming method for solving the corresponding optimization problem using a nonlinear least-squares technique. The details of the algorithm and examples of its application to the design of a 1-T whole-body superconducting coil system are given. In the example the coil cross-sectional shape and the coil position are optimized.