Abstract: This invention concerns a new embodiment of the instrument to measure nuclear polarization described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,356,080. The coil, that couples the nuclear polarized substance to the electronics, has been designed not to pick up ambient electromagnetic noise. The output from the low level oscillator is passed through a Schmidt trigger to reduce noise. A local oscillator beats with the output of the low level oscillator to provide an audible output. The instrument is automated, using a microprocessor with a customized downloaded program, to control the operation of the instrument and to output the results of measurement to a liquid crystal display and, if desired, to an external computer. This computer is not necessary and the instrument can act as a stand alone.

Abstract: This device makes measurements of the intensity of light in four different polarizations, chosen for maximum accuracy and efficiency. In the “measuring head” the light passes through two liquid crystal waveplates and a polarizing filter before falling on a light sensitive element. Different interchangeable measuring heads, using this principle, can be made for different applications. The device has electronic control and display circuits, coordinated by a microprocessor. With a photodiode as the light sensitive element, the device is a portable stand alone polarimeter which displays the polarization parameters in whatever representation the operator chooses. With a digital camera as the light sensitive element, the device produces four scenes which can be processed digitally and uploaded as a scene seen in any arbitrary polarization. Also, the unpolarized component can be filtered out; something impossible with physical filters placed before the lens.

Abstract: This device makes measurements of the intensity of light in four different polarizations, chosen for maximum accuracy and efficiency. In the “measuring head” the light passes through two liquid crystal waveplates and a polarizing filter before falling on a light sensitive element. Different interchangeable measuring heads, using this principle, can be made for different applications.

Abstract: A device for measuring the polarization of a hyperpolarized resonant substance; in a particular embodiment a hyperpolarized noble gas. A specimen of the hyperpolarized substance is made one component of a coupled oscillator, the other component being a resonant electric circuit. Such a coupled system has, in general, two stable modes of oscillation, and their frequencies are related to various parameters of the system, including the polarization of the specimen of hyperpolarized substance. The polarization can therefore be deduced from these frequencies.