<a class="external text" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Institute_of_Standards_and_Technology">NIST's</a> atom-based magnetic sensor, about the size of a sugar cube, can measure human brain activity. Inside the sensor head is a container of 100 billion rubidium atoms (not seen), packaged with micro-optics (a prism and a lens are visible in the center cutout). The light from a low-power infrared laser interacts with the atoms and is transmitted through the grey fiber-optic cable to register the magnetic field strength. The black and white wires are electrical connections.
<p><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nist.gov/pml/div688/brain-041912.cfm">See also</a> 
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Credit: Knappe/NIST
National Institute of Standards and Technology
2011-12-16 09:47:46
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