Cartesian continuous sampling with unequal gradients

An apparatus, comprising:

• a ratio logic to select a first ratio between a maximum gradient amplitude of a readout lobe (GREAD) in a Cartesian continuous sampling (CS) read gradient and a maximum gradient amplitude of a dephase lobe (GDEPHASE) in the CS read gradient, where GREAD and GDEPHASE are in opposite directions;
• and
• a gradient control logic to control an MR apparatus to produce a CS read gradient where GREAD and GDEPHASE correspond to the first ratio.

A system, comprising:

• means for generating a Cartesian continuous sampling read gradient having a read lobe, a dephase lobe, and a rephase lobe, where the amplitude of the read lobe is opposite to the amplitudes of the dephase lobe and rephase lobes;
• means for dynamically controlling a ratio between the amplitude of the read lobe and the dephase lobe and for controlling a ratio between the amplitude of the read lobe and the rephase lobe, where the control is based, at least in part, on an SNR associated with an MR signal acquired during an application of the Cartesian continuous sampling read gradient, where the MR signal is acquired during the read lobe and during at least a portion of the dephase lobe and at least a portion of the rephase lobe.