NMR signals are usually detected inductively, but the low frequencies of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by samples in a ZULF experiment makes inductive detection impractical at low fields. Hence, the earliest approach for measuring zero-field NMR in solid samples was via field-cycling techniques. The field cycling involves three steps: preparation, evolution and detection.  In the preparation stage, a field is applied in order to magnetize the nuclear spins. Then the field is suddenly switched to zero to initiate the evolution interval and the magnetization evolves under the zero-field Hamiltonian. After a time period, the field is again switched on and the signal is detected inductively at high field. In a single field cycle, the magnetization observed corresponds only to a single value of the zero-field evolution time. The time-varying magnetization can be detected by repeating the field cycle with incremented lengths of the zero-field interval, and hence the evolution and decay of the magnetization is measured point by point. The Fourier transform of this magnetization will result to the zero-field absorption spectrum.
The emergence of highly sensitive magnetometry techniques has allowed for the detection of zero-field NMR signals in situ. Examples include superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs), magnetoresistive sensors, and SERF atomic magnetometers. SQUIDs have high sensitivity, but require cryogenic conditions to operate, which makes them practically somewhat difficult to employ for the detection of chemical or biological samples. Magnetoresistive sensors are less sensitive, but are much easier to handle and to bring close to the NMR sample which is advantageous since proximity improves sensitivity. The most common sensors employed in ZULF NMR experiments are optically-pumped magnetometers, which have high sensitivity and can be placed in close proximity to an NMR sample.