Figure 1

Simulated off-resonance frequency response for SSFP protocols with a flip angle α = 8°, representing the low flip angle SSFP PD weighted acquisition, and a flip angle of α = 50°, as used in the high flip angle SSFP perfusion acquisition. The frequency response of the α = 50° protocol is quite flat over a range of ± 100 Hz, while the frequency response of the α = 8° protocol shows a deviation of 40% at ± 100 Hz. It can be observed that the banding artifacts, which occur due to off-resonance, exhibit much brighter edges at low flip angles than at high flip angles.