Synopsis

There are several ways to understand the unique features of nonlinear spatial encoding, which has led to many different approaches and applications. These include interpretations invoking warped image space, projections onto curved isocontours, dynamically modulated kspace sampling, and modifiers to the point spread function. In addition to applications in accelerated imaging, these fields have found utility in improving slice excitation, as well as zoomed excitation and encoding. Most nonlinear encoding studies have been performed with relatively traditional gradient hardware, but the additional degrees of freedom offered by gradient and gradient/RF arrays offer many new possibilities.