Designing gradient coils with the shape derivative and the closed B-spline curves

Abstract: This study proposes a versatile and efficient optimisation method for discrete coils that induce a magnetic field by their steady currents. The prime target is gradient coils for MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging). The derivative (gradient) of the $z$-component the magnetic field, which is calculated by the Biot--Savart's law, with respect to the $z$-coordinate in the Cartesian $xyz$ coordinate system is considered as the objective function. Then, the derivative of the objective function with respect to a change of coils in shape is formulated according to the concept of shape optimisation. The resulting shape derivative (as well as the Biot--Savart's law) is smoothly discretised with the closed B-spline curves. In this case, the control points (CPs) of the curves are naturally selected as the design variables. As a consequence, the shape derivative is discretised to the sensitivities of the objective function with respect to the CPs. Those sensitivities are available to solve the present shape-optimisation problem with a certain gradient-based nonlinear-programming solver. The numerical examples exhibit the mathematical reliability, computational efficiency, and engineering applicability of the proposed methodology based on the shape derivative/sensitivities and the closed B-spline curves.