Chinese Scientists Develop World’s Strongest Resistive Magnet with 42 Tesla Magnetic Field, Breaking Previous U.S. Record.
A research team at the High Magnetic Field Laboratory of the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CHMFL), has set a new record with their resistive magnet generating a stable magnetic field of 42 Tesla, powered by a 32.3 MW electricity supply, as reported by New Atlas on September 25. The team stated that this breakthrough comes from innovations in magnet structure and optimization of the manufacturing process.
World’s strongest resistive magnet in China. (Photo: HFIPS).
The previous record for the strongest resistive magnet was set at 41.4 Tesla by the U.S. National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in 2017. However, the 42 Tesla figure still falls short of the hybrid magnet record of 45.2 Tesla, also established by CHMFL in 2022.
Magnets are widely used in everyday life, from devices like speakers and toys to advanced medical equipment. They primarily consist of two types: permanent magnets and electromagnets.
Permanent magnets are made from ferromagnetic materials such as iron, nickel, and cobalt. As the name suggests, permanent magnets continuously generate a magnetic field after being magnetized.
On the other hand, electromagnets are made from coils of conducting wire and only generate a magnetic field when an electric current flows through them. This allows for better control of the magnetic field, enabling it to be turned on and off at will, and even adjusting the magnetic field strength by varying the electric current.
Electromagnets can be categorized into three types: resistive magnets, superconducting magnets, and hybrid magnets. Resistive magnets are made from common metals like copper. As a result, they are relatively simple while still providing flexible and quick magnetic field control. However, they are susceptible to temperature changes.
Superconducting magnets are more efficient because electrons can pass through the material without obstruction, but these magnets require extremely low temperatures, making them more complex and energy-intensive. The third type, hybrid magnets, combines features of resistive and superconducting magnets.
The research team at the High Magnetic Field Laboratory spent four years improving the structure of the resistive magnet and optimizing the production process. The new stronger magnet could help scientists create more challenging conditions for experiments, thereby facilitating the discovery of new physical phenomena and laws. A strong magnetic field is a crucial factor in materials research and serves as an important tool for new discoveries.
