Abstract: A diode laser-pumped magnetometer includes a diode laser that emits a polarized pumping laser beam with resonant optical radiation; and a K-cell through which a magnetic field is manifested from an independent source, the K-cell containing atoms with a dipole experiencing a torque due to the magnetic field. The atoms are excited by the resonant optical radiation of the pumping laser beam and periodically emitting a response radiation as they return to ground state such that the response radiation includes photons that indicate one unit of angular momentum indicative of the torque due to the magnetic field. Finally, a photodetector serves as a means for measuring the response radiation of the K-cell to indicate thereby a measure of the magnetic field in the K-cell from the independent magnetic source.