July 25, 2012, by Lindsay Brooke

MRI scanner heads for CERN

One of the original MRI scanners, which helped pioneer research into neurosicence and physiology at The University of Nottingham, is heading for a new life at CERN.

The 3T MR Scanner, which opened windows onto the working of the brain and body, was installed 20 years ago in the Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic Resonance Centre. It was at the heart of their research for more than a decade and was only retired a few months before its 20^th year. Sir Peter Mansfield and his team, constructed around it the worlds fastest MRI system and it held that record for many years.

Having been superseded by the super fast 7T MR scanner it is bound for a new life with physicists from the University of York who are working on a particle physics experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. It will help them investigate the effects of magnetic fields on the radio-active decay of short lived particles.

The large magnet, which was craned out of its old home this morning, will be refurbished before its installation on the end of the beam line at CERN where special detectors will be placed inside the bore of this 13 tonne magnet.

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Google+
• Share on LinkedIn