An undesirable background interference or disturbance that affects image quality.
The Noise is commonly characterized by the standard deviation of signal intensity in the image of a uniform object (phantom) in the absence of artifacts. The measured noise may depend on the particular phantom used due to variable effects on the Q of the receiver coil.
Noisy images appear when the SNR-Rate is too low - this is induced by the operator. Image artifacts and RF noise can often be caused by the presence and/or operation of a medical device in the MR environment. There are various noise sources in any electronic system, including Johnson noise, shot noise, thermal noise. Materials produce their own characteristic static magnetic field that can perturb the relationship between position and frequency essential to accurate image reconstruction.
RF noise, which often appears as static on the image, can be caused by a medical device located anywhere in the MR procedure room. RF noise is a result of excessive electromagnetic emissions from the medical device that interfere with the proper operation of the MR scanner. Since the MR procedure room is shielded from extraneous RF fields entering the room (Faraday cage), operation of electromagnetically noisy equipment outside the room does not typically affect the MR scanner.

See Signal to Noise Ratio and Radio Frequency Noise Artifact.

Magnetic shielding through the use of high permeability material. The iron provides a return path for the stray field lines of magnetic flux and so significantly decreases the flux away from the magnet.
Passive shielding (see also Faraday cage) significantly eases the problems of siting a MR imager in a confined space. Ferromagnetic objects are less prone to being attracted to the magnet, ancillary electronic equipment, credit cards and computer disks can be brought closer to the magnet and the MRI safety limit for pacemaker wearers (the 5 gauss line = 0.5 mT) is reduced from, typically, 10 m to 2 m from the magnet. A passive shield for a whole-body MRI magnet weights many tons. An alternative method of controlling stray field is active shielding.

See also Active Shielding, Magnetic Shielding, Self Shielding and Room Shielding.

Radio frequency shielding includes the construction of enclosures for the purpose of reducing the transmission of electric or magnetic fields from one space to another (Faraday cage, Faraday shield). Electrically conducted shielding is designed to isolate MRI systems from its environment at the resonant frequencies.
All electronic and computer systems radiate certain frequencies of radio and magnetic waves. They can interfere with other equipment in the vicinity. Magnetic shielding enclosures are used to reduce the levels of RF radiation that enters or leaves the shielded room.
Copper shielding enclosures are designed to filter a range of frequencies under specified conditions. One of the characteristics of copper is its high electrical conductivity. Also its other physical properties like ductility, malleability, and ease of soldering, make it an ideal material for radio frequency shielding. Sheet copper can be formed into any shape and size, and electrically connected to a grounding system to provide an effective RF shielding.

See also MRI Safety

Magnetic shielding through the use of high permeability material in the walls (plus floor and ceiling) of the magnet room. Room shielding can be complete (e.g., six sides of a box, Faraday cage), or partial if the fringe field is to be reduced only in certain areas (see also Magnetic Shielding).