China has set a new milestone by creating a magnet with a magnetic field 2 million times stronger than Earth’s. Developed by a team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the magnet boasts an impressive field strength of 42.02 teslas, surpassing the previous record of 41.4 teslas held by the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in the U.S. since 2017.
While its cost and magnetic size are striking, this breakthrough represents a significant leap forward that could pave the way for future advancements in both technology and medicine. Despite being an older technology, resistive magnets offer the benefit of sustaining high magnetic fields for longer periods, making them ideal for a wide range of experiments.
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Though this record is remarkable, it comes with some challenges, mainly the high energy consumption required. It took 32.3 megawatts of electricity to reach the record-breaking field, raising concerns over cost and sustainability.
Resistive magnets, despite their older design, have the advantage of maintaining high magnetic fields for extended periods compared to their hybrid and superconducting counterparts. Their magnetic field can also increase much faster, making them versatile tools for experimental purposes.
In essence, resistive magnets are a type of electromagnet that generates strong magnetic fields by passing an electric current through a wire coil. Unlike permanent magnets, resistive magnets can be turned on and off by connecting or disconnecting the electric current.
Globally, three types of high-power magnets are commonly used: resistive magnets, superconducting magnets, and a combination of both, known as hybrid magnets. According to Kuang Guangli, academic director of the CHMFL, resistive magnets hold the potential to give rise to new technologies such as electromagnetic metallurgy and chemical reaction synthesis, as well as expanded applications of nuclear magnetic resonance technology in medical science.
This article was originally written in Spanish by Perla Vallejo in Ecoosfera.
