Magnetic field

The magnetic field describes the influence a magnet has on its surrounding area. Magnets create a magnetic field or line of force running from the magnetic north to the magnetic south pole of the magnet. Magnetic fields are the result of intrinsic magnetic moments and moving electric charges within a material. In MRI the strength of the main magnetic field (B0) is measured in tesla (T) or, historically, gauss (G), where 1 tesla equals 10,000 gauss.