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."
