In an extraordinary scientific breakthrough, Chinese researchers have set a new world record by developing a resistive magnet with a staggering magnetic field of 42.02 tesla. This impressive feat outshines the previous record of 41.4 tesla, achieved by the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Florida in 2017. To put this achievement into context, this powerful magnet is about 800,000 times stronger than the Earth’s natural magnetic field.
The development of this magnet marks a significant advance in materials science, providing scientists with an unrivaled tool to explore unprecedented properties of matter and to enhance the sensitivity of various scientific instruments. Renowned physicist Joachim Wosnitza from a lab in Dresden highlights the importance of such advancements, suggesting that stronger magnetic fields could lead to the discovery of new forms of matter and enable the manipulation of materials in innovative ways.
Although the SHMFF’s magnet is impressive, it requires a substantial amount of power—specifically, 32.3 megawatts. Despite this hefty power demand, resistive magnets have distinct advantages over superconducting magnets as they can sustain strong magnetic fields for a longer duration and allow for rapid adjustment of field strength.
With this achievement, the facility opens its doors to researchers worldwide, inviting them to utilize the magnet for groundbreaking materials testing, with a particular focus on superconductor research. Additionally, the team is diligently working on hybrid and fully superconducting designs aimed at achieving similar magnetic field strengths with significantly less energy consumption.
In 2022, China also showcased a hybrid magnet capable of producing a magnetic field of 45.22 tesla, while in 2019, a prototype from a US National Lab managed a brief peak of 45.5 tesla. Nonetheless, the challenge remains in engineering systems that are not only low-power but also reliable, cost-effective, and capable of maintaining adequate cooling. The pursuit of these goals continues to drive innovation and push the boundaries of what’s possible in magnetic field research.
