Nuclear magnetic resonance detector
| Nuclear magnetic resonance detector | |
|---|---|
| Type | Sensory Aid |
| Tech Level | TL–12 |
| Cost | Cr5,000 |
| Size | 200 liters |
| Weight | 20 kg |
The Nuclear magnetic resonance detector (NUMAR) is built as a portal which people or objects passed through to be scanned, rather than a ranged scanner. The detector uses a magnetic field to induce radio emissions in the object passing through the portal. Analysis of the emissions can determine the composition and construction. This is used to scan cargo and passengers for contraband, illegal weapons, explosives, and other dangerous materials and simply to confirm the contents of cargo containers without opening them.
The original TL–8 design of NUMAR consists of a large (several tons) superconducting electromagnet installation with sensitive antenna to perform spectroscopic analysis of samples. By late TL–8 it becomes a medical scanner device, capable of fine detailed 3D imaging to improve diagnosis. By TL–12 the device is almost entirely replaced by medical densitometry systems, though still used in places where variable gravimetric fields make densitometers unreliable, but still able to tolerate moderate shifting magnetic fields.
The process of using the NUMAR is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the machines are frequently referred to as MRI machines.
- Terry Carlino. "Laboratory Equipment", Journal of the Travellers' Aid Society Online September 13, 2005