What is the main purpose of using a quench pipe in MRI technology?

The main purpose of using a quench pipe in MRI technology is to manage helium gas release. In MRI systems, superconducting magnets are utilized, which require extremely low temperatures maintained by liquid helium. When a quench occurs—meaning the superconducting state is lost—the helium rapidly vaporizes and converts to gas. The quench pipe provides a controlled pathway for this gas to be safely released into the atmosphere. This is crucial as the uncontrolled release of large amounts of helium gas can be hazardous, potentially leading to suffocation in poorly ventilated spaces or even damage to the MRI equipment itself.

Managing the release effectively ensures both the safety of personnel and the integrity of the MRI system, which is why the quench pipe is a critical safety feature in MRI technology. The other options, while related to MRI operations, do not align with the specific function of the quench pipe, making them less relevant in this context.