my country's steady-state strong magnetic field experimental device sets a new world record
What does 452,200 Gauss mean (technological self-reliance)
Our reporter Xu Jing
"People's Daily" (12th edition on August 17, 2022)
core reading
A few days ago, a major breakthrough was made in the steady-state strong magnetic field experimental device of the national major scientific and technological infrastructure, which produced a steady-state magnetic field with a field strength of 452,200 gauss, breaking the world record held by the same type of magnet for nearly 23 years.
Steady-state strong magnetic field experimental conditions are of great value in multidisciplinary fields such as physics, chemistry, materials, and life sciences.
The birth of the new record shows that my country has the world's leading experimental conditions for steady-state strong magnetic fields, which can provide strong support for researchers to explore the material world.
On August 12, the High Field Magnet Operation Monitoring Center of the High Magnetic Field Science Center, Hefei Institute of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The large LCD screen and rows of computer screens are covered with various charts and data. During the experiment, people pointed to the numbers on the screen and communicated with the people around them in a low voice, which seemed to be no different from usual.
But for this young team whose scientific backbone is only 35 years old on average, the latest data they have obtained is of great significance.
In the afternoon of the same day, the Hefei Institute of Physical Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences held a press conference to announce that the National Steady State Strong Magnetic Field Experimental Device developed by the Strong Magnetic Field Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences climbed to a "technological peak" again. Its hybrid magnet (magnet diameter of 32 mm) produced 452,200 The steady-state magnetic field of Gauss (ie, 45.22 Tesla) has set a new world record for the same type of magnet, and has become the highest steady-state magnetic field that can support scientific research on a global scale.
An expert group composed of a number of academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering identified that the achievement has reached the international leading level.
What is the steady-state strong magnetic field, what role does it play, and what does the new world record mean?
Strong magnetic field creates extreme experimental conditions for material science research
We know that an energized solenoid produces a magnetic field, and the greater the current, the stronger the magnetic field.
The magnets in the steady-state strong magnetic field experimental device are designed based on this basic principle.
However, as the current increases, the electromagnetic force on the conductor increases sharply, and the heat in the magnet becomes unusually large. Therefore, a more powerful and stable and controlled magnetic field must be formed through more precise, stable and advanced materials and processing technology. .
How strong is the magnetic field?
The Earth’s magnetic field is approximately equal to 0.5 Gauss, and the strength of this 0.5 Gauss is enough to move the compass, allowing the pointer to rotate accurately in any direction on the earth to point to the south, and the 452,200 Gauss that broke the world record this time is equivalent to more than 900,000 times the Earth’s magnetic field.
"If a worker wants to do a good job, he must first sharpen his tools."
Steady-state strong magnetic field is an extreme experimental condition required for material science research, and it is also a powerful tool to promote major scientific discoveries.
In the experimental environment of strong magnetic field, the properties of matter will be regulated, which is beneficial for scientists to discover new phenomena of matter and explore new laws of matter.
In recent years, the important role played by strong magnetic fields in many research fields has become increasingly apparent.
On the one hand, strong magnetic fields can induce new states of matter.
The strong magnetic field can effectively control the charge, spin, orbit, etc. in the material, making it appear completely new quantum states, thus presenting a wealth of new phenomena.
On the other hand, strong magnetic fields can give birth to new major application technologies, such as electromagnetic metallurgy under the action of strong magnetic fields, chemical reaction synthesis, etc., especially structural analysis and non-invasive imaging that are currently widely used in the fields of chemistry and biomedicine—— nuclear magnetic resonance technology.
Due to the comprehensive application of strong magnetic fields in physics, chemistry, materials, life and health, and engineering technology, the extreme conditions of strong magnetic fields are internationally known as the intersection of science, engineering and technology in the 21st century, and some people call it the Nobel Prize. the "cradle".
Focus on innovation and improve research ideas and technical processes according to new situations
my country's steady-state strong magnetic field experimental device is a major scientific and technological infrastructure approved by the National Development and Reform Commission during the "Eleventh Five-Year Plan" period, including 10 magnets: 5 water-cooled magnets, 4 superconducting magnets and 1 hybrid magnet.
Among them, the hybrid magnet is the most technically difficult magnet in the world, and it is also the magnet that can generate the highest steady-state magnetic field.
At present, there are five large steady-state strong magnetic field laboratories in the world, which are distributed in the United States, France, the Netherlands, Japan and Hefei Science Island in China.
As early as 2016, the strong magnetic field team of the Hefei Institute of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences independently developed a hybrid magnet with a central field strength of 40 Tesla (ie, 400,000 Gauss).
In 1999, a hybrid magnet at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory produced a steady-state magnetic field of 45 Tesla, a world record held for nearly 23 years.
This new record exceeds 0.22 Tesla, which seems insignificant, but behind the progress, it takes countless sweat and efforts.
Academician Ye Zhaohui of the Institute of Precision Measurement Science and Technology Innovation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences made a vivid analogy: "The current world record for 100 meters is 9 seconds 58. Whether this is the limit of human beings is still uncertain, but on this basis, even if it is shortened by 0.01 seconds , are extremely difficult. Just like the steady-state strong magnetic field, after reaching 45 Tesla, every little improvement on this basis requires a lot of work, not only including improvements in materials, technology, technology, energy security, etc., More innovations in research and design ideas are needed.”
In the process of continuous improvement of the magnetic field, researchers have been improving the new technology according to the new situation.
"For example, the friction between the coils and the pieces is increased by hydraulic means; the structure and magnetic field contribution of the three central coils are re-optimized; new insulating materials are used; the processing technology of the water-cooling tank has been improved; and so on." Chen Siyue, a researcher at the Strong Magnetic Field Science Center of the Hefei Institute of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, introduced.
After more than 5 years of technical research, the scientific research team has carried out more than 10 technological innovations, solved a series of problems, and achieved major technological breakthroughs.
Widely used, carrying out thousands of cutting-edge researches in materials, life and health and other fields
In September 2017, my country's steady-state strong magnetic field experimental device was put into full operation after passing the national acceptance.
Up to now, the device has been running for more than 500,000 machine hours, providing experimental conditions for more than 170 units at home and abroad, and has carried out more than 3,000 cutting-edge researches in the fields of physics, chemistry, materials, life and health, and engineering technology. He has made a series of major scientific and technological achievements, such as the first discovery of the three-dimensional quantum Hall effect caused by the Weyl orbit, and the revealing of the molecular and neural circuit mechanisms that improve learning and memory by sunlight.
At the same time, the achievements derived from the research and development of the device and the results of the research on the supporting device, such as combined scanning probe microscopy and national class I anti-cancer innovative targeted drugs, have been transformed.
Kuang Guangli, academic director of the High Magnetic Field Science Center of the Hefei Institute of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, introduced that the steady-state high magnetic field experimental conditions are of great value in multi-disciplinary fields such as physics, chemistry, materials, and life sciences.
The birth of the new record shows that my country has the world's leading experimental conditions for steady-state strong magnetic fields, which can provide strong support for researchers to explore the material world.
The new world record has also laid an important foundation for another large scientific facility planned and constructed by the Strong Magnetic Field Science Center, the Strong Optical and Magnetic Integrated Experiment Facility.
Kuang Guangli introduced that the facility includes a series of magnet devices with the world's highest steady-state magnetic field represented by 55 Tesla hybrid magnets and 36 Tesla superconducting magnets. The facility will also rely on a series of advanced wave sources such as microwaves and visible light to build a batch of The main scientific goal of the optical-magnetic integrated measurement system under strong magnetic field is to solve the bottleneck problems in major national needs such as the research and development of new electronic materials, the research and application of high-temperature superconductivity mechanism, the exploration of the nature of life processes, the creation of new drugs, and the preparation of special functional materials.
"Whether it is a steady-state strong magnetic field experimental device or a strong optical-magnetic integrated experimental facility, they are all important tools of the country dedicated to solving the country's major needs. We are full of confidence in realizing high-level scientific and technological self-reliance, and we want to do our best to help. It is hoped that more users can rely on the device to produce high-level scientific research results." Kuang Guangli said.