Strongest 'Split Magnet' Built!
The world's strongest 'split magnet'- a magnet that is manufactured in two halves with holes in the middle to study experiments- has been constructed in the US. It functions at 25 Tesla, which is equivalent to nearly 500,000 times Earth's magnetic field. Researchers at Florida State University stated the magnet was 43% stronger than its predecessor and that it has 1,500 times more space inside to carry out tests. The device, which cost $2.5m (£1.5m) to build, will be utilized by researchers from a variety of different backgrounds, and could lead to new discoveries in nano-science.
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The strongest split magnet!
When in use, it is to be cooled by pumping 2,500 gallons of water per minute from the centre. The earlier record was set in 1991, when French specialists designed a 17.5 Tesla split magnet. The system for measuring magnetic force is named after Serbian engineer Nikola Tesla. Head of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory at Florida State University, Dr Gregory Boebinger stated that constructing the magnet had been a huge engineering challenge. "The split magnet is essentially like two magnets brought close together, but kept a few centimetres apart to provide open pathways to the sample," said Dr Boebinger, and explained that by "the sample" he meant the material placed inside the magnet and examined by researchers. "The spectacular engineering achievement with the magnet is the ability to maintain the very high magnetic field, without having the two halves slam together."
Previously, split magnets have had tiny holes for performing experiments in, according to Dr Jack Toth, another member of the Florida team. Researchers have had to cram all their equipment - including probes, wires and temperature control systems - in a small tube of a meter length and approximately 32mm in diameter. But the new magnet has holes on four sides that are 6cm tall and 15cm wide - making it possible to shine a laser from a port onto the material inside and study, for example, how it spreads the light. Though the project, funded by the US National Science Foundation, is meant basically for experiments that involve use of optical measurements for materials research and physics, the team expects a number of chemistry and biochemistry experiments as well. Dr Eric Palm, one of the researchers, stated the combination of big ports and high magnetic field will help enhance the study of the electronic structure of materials. Discoveries made here will enable researchers to improve their materials and use them to make better improved products such as solar cells or semiconductors for the next generation of computers, he said.
The team has already conducted its first experiment. The scientists studied how fast and in what direction light refracts off a new kind of liquid crystal consisting of long molecules that are bent in the middle. "The magnetic field changes the orientation of the long molecules in the liquid crystal and the new split magnet offers the unique ability to shine the laser directly on the sample and to measure the light that is scattered in all directions," said Dr Boebinger. "Already, the researchers think they might have seen a phase transition that does not exist in ordinary liquid crystals with long, straight molecules, but apparently does exist with long molecules that are bent in the middle." His colleague Dr Jack Toth added that the magnet opens the door to new discoveries. "We now have a 1,500 times bigger optical access - it's a whole new magnitude of experiments that have never been possible anywhere in the world."
Source: Strongest 'split magnet' built in the US - BBC News
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