Chinese magnet sets world record

HEFEI — Chinese scientists used an independently developed resistive magnet on Sunday to produce a steady magnetic field of 42.02 tesla, equivalent to over 800,000 times the Earth's magnetic field, breaking a seven-year-old world record set by the United States.

The milestone achievement by the High Magnetic Field Laboratory at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Hefei Institutes of Physical Science is expected to drive scientific discoveries and applications in a wide range of technological fields.

The previous record of 41.4 tesla was set by the US' National High Magnetic Laboratory in 2017.

A steady high magnetic field is an extreme experimental condition that can serve as a powerful tool for scientific research. In the experimental environment of a high magnetic field, the properties of matter can be manipulated, which is conducive to scientists discovering new phenomena and exploring new laws of matter, experts said.

High magnetic fields can also spur applications in fields such as electromagnetic metallurgy and chemical reaction synthesis, and especially in the widespread usage of nuclear magnetic resonance technology in medical science.

Due to its significant value in various fields such as physics, chemistry, material science and life science, a steady high magnetic field has been referred to as the "cradle" of the Nobel Prizes.

The new achievement results from nearly four years of efforts by the research team, which involved innovating magnetic structures and optimizing manufacturing processes, said Kuang Guangli, academic director of the High Magnetic Field Laboratory.

Kuang said the breakthrough could meet users' needs for a fast, regulated and stable high magnetic field, provide scientists with powerful experimental conditions, and lay a key technological foundation for China's construction of higher-field steady magnets.

There are three types of steady-state magnets: resistive magnets, superconducting magnets, and hybrid magnets that combine the other two types.

The Hefei laboratory produced a steady field of 45.22 tesla with a hybrid magnet in 2022, setting a world record for all working magnets.

"Resistive magnets and superconducting magnets are both 'singles masters', while a hybrid magnet is a 'mixed-doubles combination'," Kuang said, making a comparison between magnet development and table tennis.

"In 2022, we won the mixed-doubles championship with comprehensive advantages. Today, we won the singles."

Xinhua - China Daily