NMR Detection with an Atomic Magnetometer

We demonstrate detection of NMR signals using a noncryogenic atomic magnetometer and describe several novel applications of this technique. A nuclear spin-precession signal from water is detected using a spin-exchange-relaxation-free potassium magnetometer. We also demonstrate detection of less than ${10}^{13}$ ${}^{129}\mathrm{X}\mathrm{e}$ atoms whose NMR signal is enhanced by a factor of 540 due to Fermi-contact interaction with K atoms. The possibility of using a multichannel atomic magnetometer for fast 3D magnetic resonance imaging is also discussed.