Equivalent to more than 800,000 times the earth's magnetic field, the continent has created a new peak in the world's water-cooled magnet technology
On Sunday, September 22, a laboratory on the science island in the western suburbs of Hefei, Anhui Province, was very lively, and the roar came from a huge white tank, and researchers in white coats stared at the small screen above the tank.
"40.99", "41.15", "42.02", as the numbers on the screen continue to increase and finally freeze, the crowd cheers: "420,200 Gauss!" It's a record-breaking! ”
The on-site expert group confirmed that the water-cooled magnet independently developed by the High Magnetic Field Science Center of the Hefei Institute of Physical Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences produced a steady-state magnetic field of 420,200 gauss, breaking the world record of 414,000 gauss generated by the water-cooled magnet of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory of United States in 2017.
A water-cooled magnet independently developed by the High Magnetic Field Science Center of Hefei Institute of Physical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Why create a steady-state strong magnetic field?
According to reports, the steady-state strong magnetic field is an extreme experimental condition required to carry out cutting-edge research in physical science, and it is a "sharp weapon" to promote major scientific discoveries. In the experimental environment of strong magnetic field, the properties of matter will be regulated, which is conducive to scientists to discover new phenomena and study new laws of matter, and provides a new way for the research of physics, chemistry, materials and biology.
Over the past decades, scientists around the world have made many major scientific research achievements under the condition of steady-state strong magnetic field, and more than 10 of them have won the Nobel Prize. Strong magnetic field technology has become an important field of international scientific and technological competition.
"At the same time, steady-state strong magnetic field technology has been used in many applications in our production and life, such as nuclear magnetic resonance equipment in hospitals." Xi Chuanying, deputy director of the Magnet Operation and Experimental Measurement Department of the High Magnetic Field Science Center, said that the stronger magnetic field will provide greater support for the development of high-temperature superconducting materials, high-performance batteries and biomedical equipment.
How strong is a steady-state strong magnetic field of 420,200 Gaussian?
According to reports, the earth's magnetic field is about 0.5 gauss, and 420,200 gauss is equivalent to more than 800,000 times the earth's magnetic field, marking a new peak in the development of water-cooled magnet technology in the continent and even the world.
China's steady-state strong magnetic field has set a new world record for water-cooled magnets.
"Just as a microscope can see more clearly at 100x magnification than at 10x magnification, the successful development of this magnet will provide researchers with more powerful experimental conditions and an innovative environment." Kuang Guangli, academic director of the Strong Magnetic Field Science Center, said.
It is reported that there are three types of steady-state strong magnetic field magnets, namely water-cooled magnets, superconducting magnets, and hybrid magnets that are combined by water-cooled magnets and superconducting magnets. "Water-cooled magnets and superconducting magnets are 'singles masters', and hybrid magnets are 'mixed doubles combinations'. In 2022, we won the 'Mixed Doubles Championship' with an overall advantage, and today, we have won another 'Singles Championship'. Kuang Guangli said.
How did a new record for water-cooled magnets come about?
The new record of 420,200 Gauss water-cooled magnets was produced thanks to the construction and operation of the continental steady-state strong magnetic field experimental device.
The device is a major national scientific and technological infrastructure project established during the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period of the National Development and Reform Commission, and passed the national acceptance and was officially put into operation in 2017, making the mainland the fifth country with a steady-state strong magnetic field after United States, France, Netherlands and Japan.
By the end of 2023, the device has provided experimental conditions for more than 3,000 projects of nearly 200 units at home and abroad, and a number of achievements have been successfully transformed into real productivity.
Relying on the steady-state strong magnetic field experimental device, the strong magnetic field technology research team has innovated the magnet structure and optimized the manufacturing process after nearly 4 years of hard work, and finally generated a steady-state magnetic field of 420,200 gauss under a power supply of 32.3 megawatts.
"The successful development of this magnet has laid a key technical foundation for the construction of a steady-state magnet with higher field strength in the future." Kuang Guangli said.
It is reported that the next generation of steady-state strong magnetic field large scientific device will build a world-leading steady-state magnet group represented by 55T hybrid magnets, as well as an integrated measurement system using a variety of advanced wave sources, with the main goal of solving the world's cutting-edge scientific and technological problems such as the research and development of new electronic materials, pathology of major diseases and drug development.
(Source: Xinhua News Agency)
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