Chinese scientists set new world record in geomagnetic field

ANKARA

Chinese scientists said Sunday they have successfully produced a steady magnetic field of 351,000 gauss with a fully superconducting magnet, breaking the previous world record of 323,500 gauss, state media reported.

The achievement will provide crucial technical support for advanced fields including nuclear fusion, space electromagnetic propulsion, superconducting induction heating, magnetic levitation and efficient power transmission. It is also expected to accelerate the commercialization of cutting-edge superconducting instruments, according to China’s official Xinhua News Agency.

The magnet was developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Plasma Physics (ASIPP) in partnership with the Hefei International Applied Superconductivity Center, the Institute of Energy of the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center and Tsinghua University.

Earth itself generates a geomagnetic field of about 0.5 gauss. The new magnet’s field strength is more than 700,000 times stronger.

Liu Fang, a researcher at ASIPP, said the device utilizes high-temperature superconducting insert-coil technology combined with low-temperature superconducting magnets. Such magnets are critical components of magnetic confinement fusion devices, forming a “magnetic cage” to contain high-temperature plasma for sustained energy production.

ASIPP has long worked on fusion research and recently achieved full localization of superconducting materials, devices and systems.

Writing by Aamir Latif