In an MRI apparatus, an RF coil is provided which can generate or detect a
circularly-polarized magnetic field with one feeding port, and which can
radiate highly efficient, highly homogeneous electromagnetic waves and
detect a highly sensitive, highly homogeneous magnetic resonance signal.
For this purpose, the coil has a cylindrical shape, one feeding port
which exchanges signals, plural first capacitors disposed at
circumferential positions in at least one cross-section effectively
orthogonal to the direction of the static magnetic field, and at least
one second capacitor. In this RF coil, in which a static magnetic field
is applied in essentially an identical direction to the direction of the
central axis of the cylindrical shape, a second capacitor having a
smaller capacity than the capacity of the first capacitor, is disposed at
a position from 22.5.degree. to 67.5.degree. or 202.5.degree. to
247.5.degree. in a clockwise direction with respect to the center of the
cylindrical shape from the feeding port in a cross-section viewed from a
direction passing through the static magnetic field.