Articles tagged with "magnetic-fields"
UK tests first remountable nuclear fusion magnets for 'plug in' power
Engineers involved in the UK’s STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) program have successfully tested a novel “plug-and-socket” magnet technology featuring Remountable Joints (RMJs). This innovation allows massive fusion magnets—traditionally built as permanent, solid structures—to be disassembled and reassembled for maintenance, addressing a major engineering challenge in tokamak fusion reactors. By enabling easier internal repairs and component replacements, the RMJs are expected to reduce downtime, lower operational complexity, and cut costs, thereby improving the commercial viability of fusion power plants. Complementing the RMJs, the team developed a unique bladder-based mechanical clamping system that uses a liquid-filled bladder expanding upon freezing to maintain even contact pressure at cryogenic temperatures. This ensures magnet stability and efficiency under the extreme mechanical forces generated during fusion. The clamping system is being prepared for patenting and is designed for scalable manufacturing using various industrial techniques, supporting a robust UK supply chain. STEP aims to demonstrate these technologies in realistic
energynuclear-fusionfusion-magnetstokamakpower-plantsmagnetic-fieldsenergy-innovationUS magnetic control to shield fusion reactor from electron bombardment
A new research initiative at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility aims to address a major challenge in commercial fusion energy: managing high-energy runaway electrons generated during plasma disruptions in tokamak reactors. These electrons can accelerate to near light speed and cause severe damage to the reactor’s inner walls, potentially leading to costly repairs and downtime. Supported by a Department of Energy Office of Science Graduate Student Research fellowship, Auburn University PhD student Jessica Eskew is leading efforts to develop a novel magnetic control strategy that uses the plasma’s own magnetic field structures—specifically magnetic islands—to safely “leak” these energetic electrons out in a controlled manner, rather than allowing them to strike the reactor walls abruptly. The research focuses on manipulating magnetic island dynamics, which are tube-like formations created when magnetic field lines tear and reconnect. Traditionally viewed as detrimental to plasma confinement, these islands are now being explored as potential escape routes for runaway electrons. By controlling how these islands split and reorganize, scientists hope to achieve a gradual, managed release
energyfusion-energyplasma-controlmagnetic-fieldstokamakrunaway-electronsfusion-reactor-materials3D magnetic field ‘breakthrough’ for fusion plasma control wins US award
Three researchers from the US Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL)—Seong-Moo Yang, SangKyeun Kim, and Ricardo Shousha—have been awarded the 2025 Kaul Foundation Prize for their pioneering work in optimizing three-dimensional (3D) magnetic fields within tokamaks to control edge instabilities in fusion plasma. Their approach uses real-time artificial intelligence (AI) adjustments to proactively prevent plasma instabilities, such as tearing mode disruptions, which can damage the tokamak and halt the fusion process. This marks a significant advancement over traditional methods that react only after instabilities occur. The team’s research highlights the advantages of 3D magnetic fields over conventional two-dimensional fields for maintaining plasma stability. Due to the complexity of calculating and optimizing these fields, they employed machine learning to forecast potential instabilities and make micro-adjustments in real time. This AI-driven method was validated through international collaboration, incorporating experimental data from South Korea’s KSTAR and the DIII
energyfusion-energyplasma-physicstokamakmagnetic-fieldsAI-controlmachine-learningManta ray soft robot uses magnetic fields to swim autonomously
Researchers at the National University of Singapore have developed a manta ray-inspired soft robot that uses magnetic fields not only to propel itself but also to enhance the performance of its flexible batteries, enabling autonomous and untethered operation. Traditional flexible batteries often stiffen soft robots or degrade quickly under strain, limiting their autonomy. The team addressed this by encapsulating zinc-manganese dioxide (Zn-MnO₂) batteries in soft silicone and stacking them vertically within the robot’s body, maximizing space and maintaining flexibility. Magnetic fields generated by the robot’s actuators stabilize the battery chemistry, reduce dendrite growth (which can cause short circuits), and maintain energy output after repeated bending, nearly doubling battery life compared to unenhanced samples. The magnetic field improves battery function through two mechanisms: the Lorentz force redirects zinc ion movement to promote uniform deposition and suppress dendrite formation, while alignment of electron spins within the manganese oxide lattice strengthens atomic bonds, preventing crystal degradation. The robot’s fins flap in response to external magnetic
soft-roboticsmagnetic-fieldsflexible-batteriesautonomous-robotsenergy-managementmanta-ray-robotelectrochemical-stabilizationWorld-first super magnet breakthrough key to commercial nuclear fusion
UK-based Tokamak Energy has achieved a world-first breakthrough by successfully replicating fusion power plant magnetic fields within its Demo4 system, marking the first full High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) magnet configuration to do so. The Demo4 system generated magnetic field strengths of 11.8 Tesla at -243°C, handling seven million ampere-turns of current through its central column. This milestone validates a critical technical solution for commercial fusion energy, demonstrating system-level performance in a complex magnetic environment akin to that in operational fusion reactors. The system includes 14 toroidal and two poloidal field magnets, enabling engineers to study fusion-relevant forces and gain confidence in scaling HTS technology for future energy-producing fusion plants. Beyond fusion, the breakthrough highlights the broader commercial potential of HTS materials, which offer about 200 times the current density of copper and can be used in power distribution, electric motors for zero-emission flight, and magnetic levitation transport. These magnets are smaller, lighter, and
energyfusion-energysuperconducting-magnetshigh-temperature-superconductorsclean-energytokamakmagnetic-fieldsSolar Orbiter gives first close look at the Sun’s magnetic poles
The European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter spacecraft has provided the first detailed observations of the Sun’s magnetic poles, a region previously difficult to study due to its position and the limitations of Earth-based and ecliptic-plane observations. By tilting its orbit about 17 degrees above the planetary plane in March 2024, Solar Orbiter enabled scientists to capture new data on plasma flows and magnetic field movements at the Sun’s south pole using its Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager (PHI) and Extreme-Ultraviolet Imager (EUI). These observations revealed a detailed pattern of supergranulation—large plasma cells that push magnetic fields toward their edges—forming a magnetic network at the poles. Unexpectedly, the magnetic fields were found to drift toward the pole at speeds of 10 to 20 meters per second, nearly as fast as flows near the equator, contradicting earlier assumptions that magnetic motion slowed significantly near the poles. This discovery provides crucial insight into the Sun’s
energysolar-energymagnetic-fieldsSolar-Orbiterplasma-flowsspace-researchsun's-polesTachocline mystery: NASA supercomputer unlocks Sun’s magnetic heart
The article discusses a breakthrough in understanding the Sun’s tachocline, a thin transition layer between its inner radiative zone and outer convective zone, which is crucial for the Sun’s magnetic activity. Despite its small size, the tachocline plays a key role in generating solar phenomena such as flares and coronal mass ejections. For decades, scientists struggled to explain why this boundary remains so thin and stable. Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, using NASA’s Pleiades supercomputer, conducted extensive simulations that finally captured the tachocline’s behavior realistically. Their models revealed that, contrary to previous beliefs emphasizing fluid viscosity, radiative spreading is the dominant process affecting the tachocline’s thickness. Importantly, the simulations showed a feedback loop where the Sun’s magnetic fields, generated by the dynamo process in the convective zone, help maintain the tachocline’s narrowness. This discovery not only resolves a longstanding solar physics puzzle but also has practical implications. Understanding
energysolar-physicsmagnetic-fieldssupercomputer-simulationtachoclineradiative-zoneconvective-zoneChina's new X-shaped rail gun design doubles firepower, improves range
Chinese military researchers have developed a novel "double-decker" X-shaped rail gun design aimed at overcoming the firepower and range limitations of existing naval rail guns. This innovative configuration stacks two rail guns vertically within a single barrel, each with its own independent power circuit, allowing them to operate simultaneously without interference. The design uses four rails and two U-shaped armatures working in tandem, enabling the weapon to potentially fire heavier 132-pound (60 kg) projectiles at speeds of Mach 7, significantly increasing firepower compared to the current Chinese naval rail gun, which is limited to 33-pound (15 kg) shells. The proposed system promises a substantial range extension, with projected firing distances of up to 248 miles (400 km) and impact speeds exceeding Mach 4, potentially allowing shells to reach targets within six minutes. While the design addresses key issues such as rail damage caused by excessive current and magnetic forces in traditional rail guns, researchers acknowledge that challenges remain, particularly regarding electrical interference known as
energyelectromagnetic-technologyrail-gunmilitary-technologypower-circuitsmagnetic-fieldsprojectile-accelerationJapan achieves 500,000+ tesla magnetic field force with new laser
Researchers at Osaka University have developed a novel technique called bladed microtube implosion (BMI) that generates extremely strong magnetic fields—exceeding 500 kilotesla—using ultra-intense laser pulses directed at small hollow metal cylinders with blade-like internal structures. As the laser heats and compresses the cylinder, the plasma inside spins and creates a powerful electric current, which in turn produces a magnetic field without requiring any external magnetic field to initiate the process. This self-amplifying mechanism mimics star-level magnetic forces and could enable the study of extreme magnetic environments in compact laboratory settings. The breakthrough, led by Professor Masakatsu Murakami, was demonstrated through advanced computer simulations using Osaka University’s SQUID supercomputer and a specialized particle behavior model. Although not yet experimentally verified, the researchers anticipate near-term testing with existing laser systems. Potential applications span space science—simulating magnetized stars and cosmic jets—fusion energy research, particularly improving proton-beam fast ignition techniques, and national defense
energyfusion-energymagnetic-fieldslaser-technologyplasma-physicsOsaka-Universityhigh-energy-physicsRevolutionary 3D magnet setup could slash MRI costs and boost access
German physicists from the University of Bayreuth and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have developed a novel magnetic field design that surpasses the traditional Halbach array by delivering stronger, cheaper, and more uniform magnetic fields in a compact setup. Their innovation involves arranging 16 tiny neodymium (FeNdB) magnet cuboids in optimized three-dimensional orientations on 3D-printed supports, forming single or stacked double rings. This focused design maintains magnetic field strength and uniformity not only within the magnet plane but also above it, addressing a key limitation of the Halbach array, which struggles to produce uniform fields in finite-sized, practical applications. This breakthrough holds significant promise for technologies requiring stable, homogeneous magnetic fields, particularly medical imaging. Conventional MRI machines rely on costly, complex superconducting magnets that require cryogenic cooling, limiting access in rural and underserved regions. The new permanent magnet configuration offers a low-cost, energy-efficient alternative that could make MRI technology more accessible in remote clinics, mobile health units, and
materialsmagnet-design3D-printingneodymium-magnetsMRI-technologymagnetic-fieldsmedical-imagingMagnetic fields supercharge catalysts for cleaner water and cheaper ammonia
energymaterialscatalystsammonia-productionwastewater-treatmentmagnetic-fieldselectrochemistry