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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is the medical
application of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, is a powerful
diagnostic tool. MRI works by resonantly exciting hydrogen atoms and measuring
the relaxation time -- different materials return to equilibrium at different rates;
this is how contrast develops (i.e. between soft and hard tissue). By comparing
the measurements to a known spectrum of relaxation times, medical professionals
can determine whether the imaged tissue is muscle, bone, or even a cancerous
growth. At its heart, MRI operates by quantum principles, and the underlying
spectroscopic techniques translate to other quantum systems.