Breaking Magnetic Boundaries: How Scientists Created a 45-Tesla Field – And Why 1200 Tesla Destroys the Magnet

What happens when researchers try to stretch magnetic force to its absolute limits? At the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in the United States, scientists are pushing boundaries with fields stronger than anything naturally found on Earth. Let’s dive into two world records that changed the way we understand magnetism – and the people behind the breakthroughs.

🌍 The MagLab: Home of the Strongest Man-Made Magnetic Fields

Located in Tallahassee, Florida, the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (MagLab) is the global leader in ultra-strong magnetic field research. Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, it provides scientists from around the world with access to record-setting magnets used in physics, chemistry, biology, and materials science.

⚙️ The 45-Tesla Hybrid Magnet: A Continuous World Record

In 2019, MagLab engineers achieved a continuous, stable magnetic field of 45 Tesla – the highest steady-state magnetic field ever recorded using a resistive-disk hybrid magnet.

This system was engineered by experts like Dr. Seungyong Hahn and Dr. Mark Bird, combining superconducting coils with a water-cooled resistive insert to achieve extreme field strength without destroying the apparatus. The power requirements are massive: over 30 megawatts of electricity and 20,000 liters of deionized water per minute for cooling.

🧨 The 1200-Tesla Pulse: Stronger, Faster – and Gone in Microseconds

Even more dramatic was the MagLab’s creation of a 1200+ Tesla pulsed magnetic field – the strongest artificial field ever generated. This wasn’t done in Florida, but at MagLab’s Los Alamos facility in New Mexico, where Dr. Charles (Chuck) Mielke leads the pulsed magnet research division.

In these experiments, an enormous current is delivered to a single-use copper coil, which produces a brief but extreme magnetic pulse. The forces involved are so intense that the coil explodes milliseconds after the pulse – making this a one-shot technique.

⚠️ Why Push Magnetic Fields This Far?

Extreme magnetic fields let scientists study quantum phenomena, exotic electronic states, superconductors, and novel materials under stress conditions impossible to replicate otherwise. They help explore energy transport, magnetic switching, and the fundamental behavior of electrons in ways traditional instruments can’t.

🧲 How Strong Are Everyday Magnets Compared to These Giants?

🔬 Names That Shaped the Field

• Dr. Seungyong Hahn – specialist in superconducting magnet design
• Dr. Mark Bird – director of magnet engineering at MagLab
• Dr. Charles Mielke – head of pulsed magnet operations at MagLab Los Alamos
• Dr. Laura Greene – MagLab’s Chief Scientist and world-renowned condensed matter physicist

Final Thought: From Lab Giants to Everyday Magnets

While 45 or 1200 Tesla magnets are strictly reserved for cutting-edge labs, yourmagnets.net delivers powerful neodymium magnets designed for professionals, makers, and experimenters. Even at a fraction of a Tesla, our magnets pack enormous holding force in a small footprint – with practical uses across industries and education.

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