US builds strongest split magnet

BBC : Scientists have achieved a huge engineering feat by building the world’s most powerful “split magnet,” made in two halves with holes in the middle for observing experiments. Operating at 25 tesla, which is equivalent to 500 000 times the strength of Earth’s magnetic field, the magnet is 43% stronger than its predecessor, built in 1991, and has 1500 times more space inside to carry out tests. “The split magnet is essentially like two magnets brought close together, but kept a few centimeters apart to provide open pathways to the sample,” said Gregory Boebinger, head of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory at Florida State University. “The spectacular engineering achievement with the magnet is the ability to maintain the very high magnetic field without having the two halves slam together.” Another of the researchers, Eric Palm, added, “Discoveries made here will enable researchers to improve their materials and use them to make improved products such as solar cells or semiconductors for the next generation of computers.”