On August 12, researchers at the Stable Strong Magnetic Field Facility (SHMFF) in Hefei, Anhui Province, China put into operation the world's strongest magnet for scientific research.
This magnet is 33 mm in diameter, not much larger than a coin, but can create a stable magnetic field as strong as 45.22 Tesla, a million times stronger than the Earth's magnetic field, strong enough to lift an aircraft carrier.
China's 45.22 Tesla magnet has broken the previous record of a magnet at the US High Magnetic Field Laboratory with a magnetic field strength of 45 tesla.
In 2016, the team built a 40 Tesla magnet. After 5 years of research and relentless pursuit of achieving a stronger magnetic field, the team found a new magnet structure, new materials, and optimized the manufacturing process to achieve the goal of creating the strongest magnet on the planet. This is a major technological breakthrough.
The high-magnetic field laboratory is used for cutting-edge research, seeking important discoveries. For example, in 2016, a team of scientists in Hefei observed a new physical phenomenon in carbon nanotubes, which has potential applications in the semiconductor industry. In addition, the results of many other studies conducted at the laboratory have also helped China take the lead in the race to replace silicon with carbon in chips.