China develops world’s strongest electromagnet

A research team at the High Magnetic Field Laboratory of the Hefei Institute of Physical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CHMFL) set a new record when their electromagnet generated a stable magnetic field of 42 Tesla with a power supply of 32.3 MW, New Atlas The breakthrough comes from innovating the magnet structure and optimizing the manufacturing process, the research team said.

The previous record for the strongest electromagnet was 41.4 Tesla, set by the US National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in 2017. However, 42 Tesla is still short of the record for the strongest hybrid magnet at 45.2 Tesla, also set by CHMFL in 2022.

Magnets are widely used in everyday life, from devices such as speakers, toys to high-end medical equipment. They are mainly of two types: permanent magnets and electromagnets.

Permanent magnets are made of ferromagnetic materials such as iron, nickel, cobalt… As the name suggests, permanent magnets continue to generate a magnetic field after being magnetized.

Meanwhile, electromagnets are made from coils of wire that conduct electricity and only produce a magnetic field when an electric current is passed through them. This allows for better control of the magnetic field, allowing it to be turned on and off at will, and even the strength of the magnetic field can be varied by varying the current passing through it.

Electromagnets can be divided into three types: resistive magnets, superconducting magnets, and hybrid magnets. Resistive magnets are made from common metals such as copper. This makes them relatively simple, while still providing flexible and fast control of magnetic fields. However, they are susceptible to temperature.

Superconducting magnets are more efficient because electrons can pass through the material without resistance, but they require extremely low temperatures, making them more complex and energy-intensive. A third type, hybrid magnets, are a combination of resistive magnets and superconducting magnets.

The team at the High Magnetic Field Laboratory spent four years improving the structure of the electromagnet and optimizing the manufacturing process. The new, more powerful magnets could help scientists create more challenging experimental conditions, leading to new insights into physical phenomena and laws. Strong magnetic fields are a key element in materials research and an important tool for new discoveries.