China creates world's strongest magnetic field

China has managed to produce the world's strongest magnetic field, measured at 45.22 teslas (T) at its Steady High Magnetic Field Facility (SHMFF) located in Hefei.

The new record bypassed the previous one set in 1999 of 45 (T) by a hybrid magnet, generated by the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory of the United States.

The tesla hybrid magnet consists of a resistive insert nested in a superconducting outer ring with a bore of 32mm. The magnet was completed in 2016 but only produced a magnetic field of 40 teslas then, which made it the second 40-level magnet in the world.

The academic director of the High Magnetic Field Laboratory of Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CHMFL), Professor Kuang Guangli, said "To achieve a higher magnetic field, we innovated the structure of the magnet, and developed new materials. The manufacturing process of the bitter discs was also optimized."

This magnet, marking a great milestone for magnetic technology in China, is one of the ten magnets developed and operated by CHMFL.