Skip to Main Content In this study, a model in a computer
simulation uses a single current dipole in a spherical
homogeneous medium. Dipole parameters are estimated using a
moving dipole procedure. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is defined
as the square-root of the ratio of the average signal power to
the average noise power over all measurement points. At SNR>20,
accurate estimation can be carried out independently of dipole
depth and coil size. At SNR<20, dipole depth influences
estimation error. When the dipole is located near the center of
the sphere, the measurement region should include both extrema
of the magnetic field to minimize estimation error. However,
when the dipole is not so deep, the position of the measurement
region does not influence estimation error. When SNR<4,
estimation error increases as coil size increases. Coil size
minimizing estimation error is determined by the ratio of
environmental magnetic field noise to electrical noise. For a
constant size of measurement region, increasing the