Optimization of transverse gradient coils with coaxial return paths by simulated annealing

Coils with coaxial return paths are used to generate transverse magnetic field gradients. This paper describes optimization of such coils by the method of simulated annealing, a method known to be able to find the global minimum of a function. The adaptive simulated annealing (ASA) program has been analyzed and applied to optimization of a family of coils with 8-16 building blocks, each carrying equal current. Positions of the blocks along the longitudinal axis of the coils were optimized. A new subclass of coils is proposed; the diameter of return paths of this subclass of coils is not fixed but may be varied, The new coils provide greater gradient uniformity than those for which only positions of the blocks are optimized, All optimized coils should find applications in high-precision and high-resolution imaging and spectroscopic experiments. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.