New cloaking concept shields sensitive tech from magnetic fields

Researchers at the University of Leicester, led by Dr. Harold Ruiz, have developed the first practical method to create magnetic cloaks that can shield objects of any shape from disruptive magnetic fields. Unlike previous theoretical models limited to simple geometries, their approach uses a “physics-informed design framework” combining advanced simulations and real-world parameters to produce cloaks adaptable to complex, irregular shapes. This breakthrough enables magnetic fields to be perfectly diverted around an object, leaving its magnetic environment undisturbed and effectively rendering the object "invisible" to magnetic interference. The cloak operates through a bilayer system of superconductors and soft ferromagnets. Superconductors expel magnetic fields but typically distort field lines, making cloaks detectable; the addition of soft ferromagnets with high permeability smooths and guides these lines, allowing magnetic fields to flow seamlessly around the cloaked object. This technology holds significant promise for protecting sensitive equipment in various fields, including medical devices like MRI machines, fusion reactor electronics, and quantum