Abstract: A magnetic sensor for measuring a magnetic field using an optical pumping method includes a first gas in which a valence electron is composed of an odd number of atoms or ions, a probe light incidence device which causes first probe light including straight polarized light to be incident on the first gas, a second gas in which a valence electron arranged on an optical path of second probe light that is the first probe light transmitted through the first gas is composed of an odd number of atoms or ions, a pumping light incidence device which causes first pumping light including first circular polarized light to be incident on the first gas and second pumping light including second circular polarized light to be incident on the second gas, and a detector which detects a rotation angle of a polarization plane of the first probe light and a polarization plane of third probe light that is the second probe light transmitted through the second gas.

Abstract: A quantum information processing system includes a first composite quantum system, a second composite quantum system, a plurality of electromagnetic field sources coupled to the system and an adjustable electromagnetic coupling between the first composite quantum system and the second composite quantum system.

Abstract: A magnetometer and method of use is presently disclosed. The magnetometer has at least one sensor void of extraneous metallic components, electrical contacts and electrically conducting pathways. The sensor contains an active material vapor, such as an alkali vapor, that alters at least one measurable parameter of light passing therethrough, when in a magnetic field. The sensor may have an absorptive material configured to absorb laser light and thereby activate or heat the active material vapor.

Abstract: A device to detect a magnetic field is disclosed. The device includes a first set of nano-magnets and a second set of nano-magnets. The first set of nano-magnets may be operable to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal to a target, and a second set of nano-magnets may be operable to induce an electrical signal in response to a magnetic resonance signal generated from the target.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for hyperpolarizing lithium atoms in a mixture by optically pumping, in a sampling cell, atoms of a first type or alkali metal and by spin exchange between the optically pumped electron of the alkali metal and the lithium atom electron. The lithium atoms are preferably oxidized into Li+ ions and accumulated. The nuclear spin polarization of the Li+ ions can be transmitted to a nuclear spin of an anion. The invention also concerns a method for producing substances with nuclear spin polarization in general. In accordance with said method, lithium atoms are optically pumped from atoms of a first type of alkali metal in a sampling cell and hyperpolarized by spin exchange between the optical pumped electron of the alkali metal and the lithium atom electron, the lithium atoms being then oxidized into Li+ ions. Then, the nuclear spin polarization of the Li+ ions is transmitted to another nucleus of an anion.

Abstract: An atomic magnetometer is disclosed which uses a pump light beam at a D1 or D2 transition of an alkali metal vapor to magnetically polarize the vapor in a heated cell, and a probe light beam at a different D2 or D1 transition to sense the magnetic field via a polarization rotation of the probe light beam. The pump and probe light beams are both directed along substantially the same optical path through an optical waveplate and through the heated cell to an optical filter which blocks the pump light beam while transmitting the probe light beam to one or more photodetectors which generate electrical signals to sense the magnetic field. The optical waveplate functions as a quarter waveplate to circularly polarize the pump light beam, and as a half waveplate to maintain the probe light beam linearly polarized.

Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance in a sample volume located in a measuring volume is examined by generating a packet of laser pulses to act on the measuring volume when a quasi-static magnetic field occurs therein. If the resonance conditions for nuclear spins contained therein are fulfilled, the sample volume emits a response signal that is received by a detector. The quasi-static magnetic field occurring within the measuring volume is generated by acting on the measuring volume with a low-frequency laser beam having a wavelength that exceeds the wavelength of the excitation laser by at least 102 to create a periodically variable magnetic field in the measuring volume. The amplitude of the field is at least 90% of the maximum thereof in the measuring volume. Alternatively, the measuring volume is acted on by a high-frequency laser beam having a frequency exceeding the frequency of the excitation laser by at least 102.

Abstract: An optically integrated magnetic biosensor includes an optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) center and a fluidics layer configured to contain a solution comprising analytes, the fluidics layer being disposed over the ODMR center. A light source which generates incident light excites electrons within the ODMR center from a ground state to an excited state and a radio frequency (RF) antenna generates an RF field incident with frequencies which correspond to ground state transitions in the ODMR center. The ODMR center produces emitted light when illuminated by the incident light. The characteristics of the emitted light are influenced by the RF field and magnetic nanoparticles attached to the analytes. A method for detecting analytes using optically detected magnetic resonance is also provided.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gyroscope system. The system includes a gyro cell that is sealed to enclose an alkali metal vapor, a first gyromagnetic isotope, a second gyromagnetic isotope, and a third gyromagnetic isotope. The system also includes a magnetic field generator configured to generate a substantially uniform magnetic field that is provided through the gyro cell to cause the first, second, and third gyromagnetic isotopes to precess. The system further includes an angular rotation sensor configured to measure a rotation angle about a sensitive axis of the NMR gyroscope system based on measured precession angles of the first, second, and third gyromagnetic isotopes.

Abstract: Downhole orientation sensing with a nuclear spin gyroscope. A downhole orientation sensing system for use in conjunction with a subterranean well can include a downhole instrument assembly positioned in the well, the instrument assembly including an atomic comagnetometer, and at least one optical waveguide which transmits light between the atomic comagnetometer and a remote location. A method of sensing orientation of an instrument assembly in a subterranean well can include incorporating an atomic comagnetometer into the instrument assembly, and installing the instrument assembly in the well.

Abstract: An atomic ion clock with a first ion trap and a second ion trap, where the second ion trap is of higher order than the first ion trap. In one embodiment, ions may be shuttled back and forth from one ion trap to the other by application of voltage ramps to the electrodes in the ion traps, where microwave interrogation takes place when the ions are in the second ion trap, and fluorescence is induced and measured when the ions are in the first ion trap. In one embodiment, the RF voltages applied to the second ion trap to contain the ions are at a higher frequency than that applied to the first ion trap. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A magnetometer is provided comprising an atomic vapor in an enclosure, a source of light for preparing the vapor into a state exhibiting electromagnetically induced transparency, a first laser beam passing through the atomic vapor, a phase detector for detecting changes in phase of the first laser beam, and a controller which controls the light source and laser beam and receives the information detected by the phase detector in order to compute from those changes in phase a magnetic field strength in the presence of a selected background magnetic field of at least 0.001 T. Operation in the presence of a background field helps make this magnetometer suitable for diagnostic imaging applications.

Abstract: An atomic magnetometer includes a cell containing an atomic group, a pump light source, a probe light source, a mirror, and a detector. The cell is disposed between the pump light source and the mirror and between the probe light source and the detector. A pump beam emitted from the pump light source is circularly polarized light. The pump beam passes through the cell and is reflected by the mirror and then passes through the cell again. The probe beam emitted from the probe light source is linearly polarized light. An optical path of the probe beam is parallel to the plane of incidence of the pump beam and is also parallel to the surface of the mirror. The optical path of the probe beam crosses the optical path of the pump beam in the cell. The probe beam which has passed through the cell enters the detector.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methodology subject matters for providing improved functionality of a meter in a 2-way communications arrangement, such as an Advanced Metering System (AMS) or Infrastructure (AMI). More particularly, the present technology relates to methodologies and apparatus for providing load side voltage sensing for utility meters which preferably are operable with remote disconnect features in an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) open operational framework. The present subject matter provides enhanced capabilities resulting in improved functionality, increased safety, and greater economy vis-à-vis fraud detection for individual metrology components in an open operational framework. Meters per the present subject matter utilize a detection circuit, which is situated generally downstream of a remote disconnect functionality. Such detection circuit is able to sense whether voltage exists or doesn't exist at such relatively downstream, or load side location.

Abstract: A method of providing polarized noble gas for NMR or MRI applications incorporates a control module, a plurality of optical pumping modules each including an optical pumping cell operably associated with the control module; a plurality of dispensing systems, one for each optical pumping module wherein each dispensing system is operably associated with the control module and the its associated optical pumping module to dispense meted volumes of polarized gas from the hyperpolarizer; the optical pumping modules, and the dispensing systems, where a noble gas is directed to a selected one of the optical pumping modules, polarized and dispensed by the associated dispensing system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a material for the construction of external coverings accessible by humans or animals. It aims to increase the breakdown voltage between a high voltage VRF, high frequency source of energy and the human or animal, by adaptation of materials and structures. According to an embodiment of the invention, a structure is provided for the cover 18 used in MRI or NMR systems, which carries a greater proportion Vs of the voltage VRF across itself, thereby reducing the voltage Vg across the gap 22 and reducing the likelihood of breakdown.

Abstract: A polarization gain medium such as an emitting laser diode provides the optical pumping. An atomic vapor cell is positioned in the laser cavity providing spontaneous push-pull optical pumping inside the laser cavity. This causes the laser beam to be modulated at hyperfine-resonance frequency. A clock signal is obtained from electrical modulation across the laser diode.

Abstract: An electron spin measuring device of the organic thin film element is provided with: at least one sample tube into which a sample for measurement is inserted and which is sealed together with specific gas or with vacuum; a cavity into which the at least one sample tube is inserted; an electric characteristic measuring device for the characteristic evaluation of the organic thin film element which is the sample; connected wiring for interconnecting the electrical characteristic measuring device and the sample for measurement in the sample tube; and a light receiving/emitting device for performing the light irradiation to the sample for measurement, and/or performing the detection of the light emission from the organic thin film element, wherein the cavity resonator irradiates microwaves having the number of vibration corresponding to the Zeeman energy splitting of the unpaired electron, sweeps a magnetic field to the sample tube, and measures the transition between the energy levels caused by the reversal of t

Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises a polarization filter and a polarization analyzer. The polarization filter comprises a first polarization axis. The polarization analyzer comprises a second polarization axis. The polarization filter is configured to polarize detection light for a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) cell along the first polarization axis. The polarization analyzer is configured to receive the detection light from the NMR cell and pass a portion of the detection light to a processor for determination of angular rate information. The portion of the detection light passed to the processor is based on an orientation of the second polarization axis relative to the first polarization axis. The orientation is selected to maximize a signal-to-noise ratio of the detection light.

Abstract: A magnetometer and method of use is presently disclosed. The magnetometer has at least one sensor void of extraneous metallic components, electrical contacts and electrically conducting pathways. The sensor contains an active material vapor, such as an alkali vapor, that alters at least one measurable parameter of light passing therethrough, when in a magnetic field. The sensor may have an absorptive material configured to absorb laser light and thereby activate or heat the active material vapor.

Abstract: An optical atomic magnetometers is provided operating on the principles of nonlinear magneto-optical rotation. An atomic vapor is optically pumped using linearly polarized modulated light. The vapor is then probed using a non-modulated linearly polarized light beam. The resulting modulation in polarization angle of the probe light is detected and used in a feedback loop to induce self-oscillation at the resonant frequency.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing photodiode thermal gain coefficient includes a bulk semiconductor material having a light-illumination side. The bulk semiconductor material includes a minority charge carrier diffusion length property configured to substantially match a predetermined hole diffusion length value and a thickness configured to substantially match a predetermined photodiode layer thickness. The apparatus also includes a dead layer coupled to the light-illumination side of the bulk semiconductor material, the dead layer having a thickness configured to substantially match a predetermined thickness value and wherein an absolute value of a thermal coefficient of gain due to the minority carrier diffusion length property of the bulk semiconductor material is configured to substantially match an absolute value of a thermal coefficient of gain due to the thickness of the dead layer.

Abstract: An atomic magnetometer that simultaneously achieves high sensitivity, simple fabrication and small size. This design is based on a diverging (or converging) beam of light that passes through an alkali atom vapor cell and that contains a distribution of beam propagation vectors. The existence of more than one propagation direction permits longitudinal optical pumping of atomic system and simultaneous detection of the transverse atomic polarization. The design could be implemented with a micro machined alkali vapor cell and light from a single semiconductor laser. A small modification to the cell contents and excitation geometry allows for use as a gyroscope.

Abstract: A microwave signal generator includes a magnetron to generate a microwave signal, a coupler to receive the microwave signal generated by the magnetron and to send the microwave signal to a load; and a band-pass filter to receive the microwave signal from the coupler and to filter the microwave signal to obtain a signal from an oscillation frequency band of the magnetron. The band-pass filter feeds the signal from the oscillation frequency band back to the magnetron in order to fix an oscillation frequency of the magnetron and is a DR (Dielectric Resonator) filter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device capable of producing a high resolution chemical analysis of a sample, such as fluid, based upon nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, where the nuclear magnetic polarizations of the sample are generated by sequentially illuminating the sample with a focused beam of light carrying angular orbital angular momentum (OAM) and possibly momentum (spin). Unlike in usual NMR used for magnetic nuclear resonance imaging (MRI) or spectroscopy, the invention does not make use of a strong magnet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for polarizing a solid compound of interest via spin transfer from an optically-pumped alkali vapor. In one embodiment, the method provides a cell which contains a solid compound as well as pure alkali metal and some amount of buffer gas. The cell is heated to vaporize some of the pure alkali. Resonant laser light is passed through the cell to polarize the atomic vapor, a process known as “optical pumping.” Optical pumping can transfer order from photons to atoms, causing a buildup of vapor atoms in one angular momentum state. This vapor polarization is then transferred through the surface of the solid compound in order to polarize the nuclei in the bulk of the compound. This can produce nuclear polarizations in the sample many times larger than the limit set by thermal equilibrium. The method can be used in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Abstract: An atomic magnetometer is used to detect radio frequency magnetic fields, such as those generated in nuclear resonance experiments. The magnetometer is based on nonlinear magneto-optical rotation and pumps an atomic vapor into a quadrupole aligned state. Detection of the modulation of the polarization of a linearly polarized beam provides the radio frequency signal, which can then be processed to extract the component frequencies.

Abstract: Provided is an electromagnetic tracking system, including at least one electromagnetic field receiver having at least one scalar-magnetometer, at least one electromagnetic field transmitter, and tracker electronics. Also provided is a method for electromagnetic tracking, including generating at least one magnetic field, sensing the at least one magnetic field with at least one scalar-magnetometer, and determining a relative position of the at least one scalar-magnetometer based on the sensed at least one magnetic field.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining information from a subterranean environment, the apparatus includes: an atomic magnetometer configured to measure a magnetic field related to the information. An associated method for obtaining the information is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of generating a single photon, includes preparing an optical resonator including a resonator mode of a resonance angular frequency ?c, preparing a material contained in the optical resonator, including a low energy state |g> and a high energy state |e>, and including a transition angular frequency ?a between |g>?|e> that is varied by an external field, applying, to the material, light of an angular frequency ?l different from the resonance angular frequency ?c, and applying a first external field to the material to vary the transition angular frequency ?a to resonate with the angular frequency ?l, such that a state of the material is changed to |e>, and then applying a second external field to the material to vary the transition angular frequency ?a to resonate with the resonance angular frequency ?c, such that the state of the material is restored to |g>.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method which makes use of the Zeeman effect for measuring magnetic fields, by way of dark resonances. According to said method, a measuring cell (14) is exposed to the magnetic field (B) to be measured and contains the atoms of a measuring medium in a buffer gas, a radiation source (11) being provided for exciting the atoms by radiation and being connected to the modulation frequency generator and emitting electromagnetic radiation with different frequencies. A frequency detector (17) is mounted downstream of the measuring cell (14) and comprises a control loop (18) for the frequency tuning to a dark resonance frequency.

Abstract: A tracking device (20, 20?) for tracking a tip (14) of an interventional instrument such as a catheter (10) during an interventional procedure performed on an associated subject (12) and monitored by magnetic resonance imaging includes a resonant circuit (22) disposed at the tip (14) of the catheter (10). The resonant circuit (22) includes a coil (32, 32?) having a coil inductance and a light-sensitive metal-insulator-semiconductor capacitor (30) optically coupled with an optical fiber (36) and having a selected capacitance determined by an intensity of light delivered by the optical fiber (36). A selected resonance frequency of the resonant circuit (22) is determined by the coil inductance and the selected capacitance. The resonance frequency is adjusted by modulating the intensity of light delivered to the light-sensitive metal-insulator-semiconductor capacitor (30).

Abstract: A vessel for rare-gas filling is provided that is capable of realizing a substantially completely circularly polarized light state in the vessel by using a single crystal material for a light entrance window. To this end, the thickness and the crystal axis orientation of the single crystal material are optimized. A polarization method of rare-gas nucleus using such a vessel is also provided. Embodiment of the vessel and the polarization method include those in which (1) an alkali resistance is high, (2) a pressure resistance is high, (3) no permeation of 3He occurs, and (4) a neutron absorption corresponds to applications to basic science, for example, neutron scattering is negligible. The vessel for rare-gas filling includes a vessel body and a pipe connected to the vessel body for introducing a rare-gas containing gas and an alkali metal into the vessel body.

Abstract: The method and apparatus in one embodiment may have: a gyro housing containing a bias field; a bias field that generates a stable axial magnetic field; Xenon or other gas contained within at least a portion of the axial magnetic field, Xenon or other gas nuclear spins precessing at a constant angular rate with respect to the gyro housing in response to the axial magnetic field; wherein reversing a polarity of the bias field reverses a polarity of the magnetic field and a polarity of the precession of the Xenon or other gas nuclear spin, and wherein a reversing of the polarity of the gyro scalefactor thereby results without reversing a polarity of the gyro bias.

Abstract: The present invention is a polarizing process involving a number of steps. The first step requires moving a flowing mixture of gas, the gas at least containing a polarizable nuclear species and vapor of at least one alkali metal, with a transport velocity that is not negligible when compared with the natural velocity of diffusive transport. The second step is propagating laser light in a direction, preferably at least partially through a polarizing cell. The next step is directing the flowing gas along a direction generally opposite to the direction of laser light propagation. The next step is containing the flowing gas mixture in the polarizing cell. The final step is immersing the polarizing cell in a magnetic field. These steps can be initiated in any order, although the flowing gas, the propagating laser and the magnetic field immersion must be concurrently active for polarization to occur.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a nuclear spin-polarized noble gas by spin-polarizing a noble gas in the presence of an optical pumping catalyst under application of magnetic field and laser light, including a cell having a thin reaction chamber, a gas introduction conduit connected in fluid communication with the reaction chamber for feeding the noble gas, a gas discharge conduit connected in fluid communication with the reaction chamber, a first gate valve having an outlet port connected to the gas introduction conduit and an inlet port adapted to be in fluid communication with a noble gas introduction line, a second gate valve having an inlet port connected to the gas discharge conduit and an outlet port, and a capillary tube removably connected to the outlet port of the second valve for recovering a nuclear spin-polarized noble gas produced in the reaction chamber. The apparatus may be directly connected to NMR or MRI.

Abstract: Provided is a highly accurate optical pumping magnetometer, in which a static magnetic field and an oscillating field to be applied to a vapor cell are stabilized. To this end, the optical pumping magnetometer includes: Helmholtz coils for applying a constant static magnetic field to a vapor cell serving as a magnetic field detector; fluxgate magnetometers for detecting environmental magnetic noise in two directions of X-axis direction and Y-axis direction other than Z-axis direction which is a direction for detecting a magnetic field coming out of a measurement object while locating the vapor cell in the center thereof; magnetometer drive circuits for driving the fluxgate magneotometers; current converters for converting outputs of the magnetometer drive circuits into amount of currents; and magnetic field generating coils for generating a magnetic field in a phase opposite to the environmental magnetic noise in the two directions.

Abstract: Providing: quickly brining a vapor cell 119 to a desired temperature when retaining the heat of the vapor cell 119 to enhance the magnetic field detection performance of an optically pumped magnetometer; preventing adherence of atoms in the vapor cell 119 to a laser irradiation light passing-through part of the vapor cell 119; downsizing the periphery of the vapor cell 119; and suppressing the effect of a magnetic field from a heater used to retain the heat of the vapor cell 119.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement (1) for detection of a first resonance frequency (F1), related to a mass (1b?) loaded carrier means (1b), and to compare said first resonance frequency (F1) with a second, as a reference used, resonance frequency (F2), related to said carrier means (1b), by using frequency comparing and/or calculating means (3, 4) to evaluate, by a noted frequency shift (F2-F1), a mass weight (1b?). An array of individual carrier means (1a, 1b . . .

Abstract: An apparatus in one example comprises a polarization filter and a polarization analyzer. The polarization filter comprises a first polarization axis. The polarization analyzer comprises a second polarization axis. The polarization filter is configured to polarize detection light for a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) cell along the first polarization axis. The polarization analyzer is configured to receive the detection light from the NMR cell and pass a portion of the detection light to a processor for determination of angular rate information. The portion of the detection light passed to the processor is based on an orientation of the second polarization axis relative to the first polarization axis. The orientation is selected to maximize a signal-to-noise ratio of the detection light.

Abstract: A magnetometer is provided comprising an atomic vapor in an enclosure, a source of light for preparing the vapor into a state exhibiting electromagnetically induced transparency, a first laser beam passing through the atomic vapor, a phase detector for detecting changes in phase of the first laser beam, and a controller which controls the light source and laser beam and receives the information detected by the phase detector in order to compute from those changes in phase a magnetic field strength in the presence of a selected background magnetic field of at least 0.001 T. Operation in the presence of a background field helps make this magnetometer suitable for diagnostic imaging applications.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for hyperpolarizing lithium atoms in a mixture by optically pumping, in a sampling cell, atoms of a first type or alkali metal and by spin exchange between the optically pumped electron of the alkali metal and the lithium atom electron. The lithium atoms are preferably oxidized into Li+ ions and accumulated. The nuclear spin polarization of the Li+ ions can be transmitted to a nuclear spin of an anion. The invention also concerns a method for producing substances with nuclear spin polarization in general. In accordance with said method, lithium atoms are optically pumped from atoms of a first type of alkali metal in a sampling cell and hyperpolarized by spin exchange between the optical pumped electron of the alkali metal and the lithium atom electron, the lithium atoms being then oxidized into Li+ ions. Then, the nuclear spin polarization of the Li+ ions is transmitted to another nucleus of an anion.

Abstract: An atomic magnetometer includes a cell containing an atomic group, a pump light source, a probe light source, a mirror, and a detector. The cell is disposed between the pump light source and the mirror and between the probe light source and the detector. A pump beam emitted from the pump light source is circularly polarized light. The pump beam passes through the cell and is reflected by the mirror and then passes through the cell again. The probe beam emitted from the probe light source is linearly polarized light. An optical path of the probe beam is parallel to a plane of incidence of the pump beam and is also parallel to a surface of the mirror. The optical path of the probe beam crosses an optical path of the pump beam in the cell. The probe beam which has passed through the cell enters the detector.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for analyzing a biological tissue, whereby a luminescence light of a luminescence substance is detected. The aim of the invention is to increase the precision and reliability of the analysis. To this end, a permutation symmetry imbalance is generated in the tissue by a magnetic field, the permutation symmetry imbalance is modified at a pre-determined location by a magnetic alternating field, and the luminescence light is detected according to the pre-determined location.

Abstract: Methods and related devices are provided for probing a surface by application of a hyperpolarized noble gas having a nuclear electric quadrupole moment to the surface. In an embodiment, the hyperpolarized noble gas is substantially free of alkali metal vapor, such as rubidium vapor used to hyperpolarize the noble gas. Noble gas interaction with the surface of interest is detected by measuring quadrupolar-driven events such as T1, T2 relaxation or coherent processes by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy or by magnetic resonance imaging, for example. The method is capable of probing a variety of surfaces that are difficult to analyze by conventional methods, including biological or non-biological surfaces, to obtain detailed and reliable information related to surface chemical composition.

Abstract: A laser-based atomic magnetometer (LBAM) apparatus measures magnetic fields, comprising: a plurality of polarization detector cells to detect magnetic fields; a laser source optically coupled to the polarization detector cells; and a signal detector that measures the laser source after being coupled to the polarization detector cells, which may be alkali cells. A single polarization cell may be used for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) by prepolarizing the nuclear spins of an analyte, encoding spectroscopic and/or spatial information, and detecting NMR signals from the analyte with a laser-based atomic magnetometer to form NMR spectra and/or magnetic resonance images (MRI). There is no need of a magnetic field or cryogenics in the detection step, as it is detected through the LBAM.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes novel laser-based, high-brightness, high-spatial-resolution, pencil-beam sources of spectrally pure hard x-ray and gamma-ray radiation to induce resonant scattering in specific nuclei, i.e., nuclear resonance fluorescence. By monitoring such fluorescence as a function of beam position, it is possible to image in either two dimensions or three dimensions, the position and concentration of individual isotopes in a specific material configuration. Such methods of the present invention material identification, spatial resolution of material location and ability to locate and identify materials shielded by other materials, such as, for example, behind a lead wall. The foundation of the present invention is the generation of quasimonochromatic high-energy x-ray (100's of keV) and gamma-ray (greater than about 1 MeV) radiation via the collision of intense laser pulses from relativistic electrons. Such a process as utilized herein, i.e.

Abstract: A biosensor based upon a vertically emitting, distributed feedback (DFB) laser is disclosed. In one configuration, the DFB laser comprises a replica-molded, one- or two-dimensional dielectric grating coated with a laser dye-doped-polymer as the gain medium. A sensor is also described in which the grating layer and the active layer are combined into a single layer. DFB lasers using an inorganic or organic thin film with alternating regions of high and low index of refraction as the active layer are also disclosed. The sensor actively generates its own narrowband high intensity light output without stringent requirements for coupling alignment, thereby resulting in a simple, robust illumination and detection configuration.

Abstract: A radio-frequency tunable atomic magnetometer for detection of nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) from room temperature solids, including detection of nitrogen-containing explosives placed external to a sensor unit. A potassium radio-frequency magnetometer with sensitivity of 0.24 fT/Hz1/2 operating at 423 kHz is provided. The magnetometer detected a 14N NQR signal from room temperature ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) in the zero-applied field limit. Results demonstrate first time detection of NQR with an atomic magnetometer, providing that a cryogen-free atomic magnetometer, with intrinsically frequency-independent sensitivity and easy tuning capabilities, can be an attractive new tool for detecting magnetic resonance signals in the kHz to MHz range.

Abstract: An atomic magnetometer that simultaneously achieves high sensitivity, simple fabrication and small size. This design is based on a diverging (or converging) beam of light that passes through an alkali atom vapor cell and that contains a distribution of beam propagation vectors. The existence of more than one propagation direction permits longitudinal optical pumping of atomic system and simultaneous detection of the transverse atomic polarization. The design could be implemented with a micro machined alkali vapor cell and light from a single semiconductor laser. A small modification to the cell contents and excitation geometry allows for use as a gyroscope.