In search of the strongest electromagnet

2007/05/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Elektronika
• Materialak
• Teknologia

When performing nuclear magnetic resonances, the stronger the magnetic field, the more accurate the resonance results are. A team from Northwestern University has found that a superconductor material, known as Bi-2212, could serve to create the most powerful magnetic field ever created.

For the creation of powerful magnetic fields, electromagnets are used, which are capable of producing superconductive materials, that is, materials capable of driving electricity without losing energy in certain conditions (usually at very low temperatures). In fact, the electric current creates a magnetic field. By not losing energy during transport, superconducting materials create stronger magnetic fields than conventional ones.

The high-strength magnetic fields are used in laboratories for the study of complex molecules. The most powerful magnetic field so far is 21 teslas. For this purpose they place a superconductor material at a temperature of -269ºC. With the new superconductor they would create 30 teslas at that temperature.