TITLE: Chinese Physicists Set Record with 35.1 Tesla Superconducting Magnet
Record-Breaking Magnetic Field Achieved in China
Chinese researchers have developed a superconducting magnet that has set a new world record by generating a magnetic field measuring 35.1 tesla. This remarkable achievement represents a magnetic field strength approximately 700,000 times stronger than Earth’s natural magnetic field and was sustained for about 30 minutes during testing.
Technical Innovation and Validation
The Institute of Plasma Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced this breakthrough, which surpasses their previous record of 32.35 tesla set by another CAS division. The successful demonstration validates the reliability of their technical approach and creates an important experimental platform for conducting various tests under extreme magnetic conditions.
Superconducting Technology Challenges
Superconducting magnets require extremely low temperatures to function properly, presenting significant engineering challenges. While these magnets are already used in applications like MRI scanners and particle accelerators, fusion applications present additional complications due to the intense heat generated by nuclear reactions.
The new magnet design represents a sophisticated balance of technologies, incorporating high-temperature superconducting insert-coil technology that is coaxially nested with low-temperature superconducting magnets. This innovative approach helps address the thermal management challenges inherent in fusion applications.
Future Applications and Global Collaboration
While this magnet is not yet ready for integration into a fusion reactor, the research represents significant progress toward practical fusion energy applications. The CAS Institute of Plasma Physics leads China’s participation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactator (ITER), the global collaboration building the world’s largest fusion reactor.
The institute has been tasked with providing multiple components for ITER, including superconducting technology, though it hasn’t been specified whether this particular magnet will be used in the project. This groundbreaking research was originally detailed in a comprehensive report that provided extensive technical analysis of the achievement.
This advancement in superconducting magnet technology opens new possibilities for scientific research and brings us closer to practical nuclear fusion energy, potentially revolutionizing how we generate power in the future.