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Tests show high-temperature superconducting magnets are ready for fusion

Researchers at MIT and Commonwealth Fusion Systems confirm their high-temperature superconducting magnet design meets the criteria for a compact fusion power plant. The successful test marks a significant milestone in fusion research, with the potential to usher in an era of virtually limitless power production.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalIEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity·DateMar 4, 2024

Thermoelectric permanent magnet opens new possibilities in thermal management technologies

A NIMS research team developed a hybrid material capable of simultaneously exhibiting three types of TEC phenomena, including magneto-thermoelectric effects. By incorporating permanent magnets, the team achieved improved transverse TEC efficiency without external magnetic fields.

SourceNational Institute for Materials Science, Japan·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 16, 2024

Discovery of magnetic liquid crystal

Researchers have directly observed a magnetic analog of liquid crystal, known as the 'spin-nematic phase', in a quantum spin system. This discovery was made possible by advancements in synchrotron facility development and has significant implications for quantum computing and information technologies.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 13, 2023

Magnetization by laser pulse

Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have identified a promising phenomenon where certain iron alloys can be magnetized using ultrashort laser pulses. The team has now expanded its findings to an iron-vanadium alloy, revealing a new class of materials with potential applications in spintronics and magnetic sensors.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 7, 2023

Lehigh University researchers make sand that flows uphill

Lehigh University researchers have discovered that applying magnetic forces to individual 'microroller' particles can spur collective motion, allowing the grains to flow uphill, up walls, and climb stairs. This counterintuitive phenomenon has potential applications in mixing, segregating materials, and microrobotics.

SourceLehigh University·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 20, 2023

High-temperature superconducting large-current conductor with simple stacking

Scientists at NIFS have created a stable and strong High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) large-current conductor, named STARS, that can be applied to fusion reactors. The new conductor overcomes challenges in twisting and transposing thin wires, achieving higher current densities than Low-Temperature Superconductors.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalJournal of Physics Conference Series·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 9, 2023

Rensselaer researcher uses artificial intelligence to discover new materials for advanced computing

A Rensselaer researcher has used artificial intelligence to discover novel van der Waals (vdW) magnets with large magnetic moments. These two-dimensional vdW magnets have the potential to advance science and technology in data storage, spintronics, and quantum computing.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalAdvanced Theory and Simulations·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 11, 2023

Physicists discover ‘stacked pancakes of liquid magnetism’

Researchers have discovered a new phase of liquid magnetism in layered helical magnets, where magnetic dipoles behave like 'flattened puddles' with varying alignment between layers. This phenomenon, predicted by a computational model, may explain the unusual electronic behavior observed in these materials.

SourceRice University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 10, 2023

Physicists find unusual waves in nickel-based magnet

Researchers found that two outermost electrons from each nickel ion behaved differently, cancelling each other out in a phenomenon called a spin singlet. This led to the discovery of two families of propagating waves at dramatically different energies, contradicting expectations of local excitations.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 18, 2023

Cooking up plasmas with microwaves

Researchers at Kyoto University have successfully created stable plasmas using microwaves, a key step towards harnessing nuclear fusion's massive energy potential. The team identified three crucial steps in plasma production and used Heliotron J to generate the dense plasmas.

SourceKyoto University·JournalProblems of Atomic Science and Technology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 28, 2023

Magnetic field helps thick battery electrodes tackle electric vehicle challenges

Researchers at UT Austin fabricated a new type of electrode using magnets to create vertical alignment, enabling faster charging and potentially doubling range on single charge. The vertically assembled nanosheet networks show superior electrochemical performance due to high mechanical strength and electrical conductivity.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 26, 2022

Less risk, less costs: Portable spectroscopy devices could soon become real

Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have developed a new method for detecting alcohols using zero- to ultralow-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) combined with the SABRE-Relay hyperpolarization technique. This innovative approach enables measurements without strong magnetic fields, reducing device size and potential ...

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 1, 2022

Elemental research: Scientists apply boron to tungsten components in fusion facilities

Researchers at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have successfully applied boron powder to tungsten components in tokamaks, improving plasma confinement and reducing the risk of edge-localized modes. The innovative approach uses a PPPL-developed powder dropper to deposit boron coatings while minimizing disruptions to the magnetic field.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalNuclear Fusion·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 30, 2022

Deformable pump gives soft robots a heart

A team of researchers from Cornell University has developed a deformable pump for soft robots, mimicking the human heart's functionality. The pump uses hydrodynamic and magnetic forces to provide soft robots with a circulatory system, allowing them to store energy and power their movements more efficiently.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 15, 2022

Energy harvesting to power the Internet of Things

A new study uses finite element simulation to optimize energy harvesting from vibrating micromagnets for wireless sensor networks in the Internet of Things. The research aims to provide a sustainable micro-energy source for the ubiquitous sensors, reducing the need for battery replacements or recharging.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal Special Topics·DateJun 13, 2022