Scientists have successfully generated the most powerful magnetic force ever recorded in the cosmos.
Breakthrough Discovery at Brookhaven National Laboratory: Record-breaking Magnetic Fields Unveil Secrets of the Universe
In a groundbreaking development, physicists at the Brookhaven National Laboratory have generated record-breaking magnetic fields using advanced superconducting electromagnets at their Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC). These fields, stronger than those found in neutron stars, are opening new avenues for studying the fundamental structure of matter and the universe's earliest moments.
The team, led by Aihong Tang, a Brookhaven lab physicist, successfully created off-centre collisions of gold atomic nuclei, generating a strong magnetic field. This field, predicted to be 1018 gauss, is significantly stronger than a neutron star's magnetic field, measuring around 1014 gauss.
The magnetic field, induced by the high-speed collision, set free quarks and gluons from the protons and neutrons that separated during the smashups. This, in turn, produced an electrical current that could be observed and measured.
The discovery of this electromagnetic field in the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) was a significant breakthrough. Shen, a member of the team, stated that they could infer the value of the conductivity from their measurement of the collective motion of different pairs of charged particles while ruling out the influence of competing non-electromagnetic effects.
The team observed a pattern of charge-dependent deflection, a clear sign of Faraday induction, which can only be triggered by an electromagnetic field in the QGP. This discovery not only confirms the existence of an electromagnetic field in the QGP but also provides a new way for experts to study the electrical conductivity of the QGP, a state of matter where quarks and gluons are not confined inside protons and neutrons.
The implications of this discovery are far-reaching. By understanding the behavior of nuclear matter under extreme conditions, scientists can improve their knowledge of particle physics and potentially inform cosmological models of the early universe. The development and repurposing of these powerful magnets for the next-generation Electron-Ion Collider aim to deepen insights into the structure of protons and neutrons, advancing our understanding of how matter acquires mass and spin.
In 2024, another fascinating discovery was made at the same lab. Scientists found zones on Earth where flashes of magnetism burst with strengths weaker than magnetars. This discovery underscores the ongoing exploration and understanding of the magnetic field phenomena in our world and beyond.
In summary, the record-breaking magnetic fields at RHIC have provided a unique opportunity to study the quark-gluon plasma, a state of matter similar to that just after the Big Bang. The on-going evolution of this magnet technology into the new EIC promises further discoveries about the building blocks and forces shaping the cosmos. The study of these magnetic fields continues to be a key area of research for scientists, shedding light on the fundamental forces and building blocks of matter.
- This record-breaking magnetic field generated at Brookhaven National Laboratory's RHIC is stronger than those found in neutron stars, making it a promising tool for explorations in space-and-astronomy.
- The advancements in technology, specifically the creation of superconducting electromagnets, have significantly contributed to science by allowing physicists to investigate the fundamental structure of matter and the universe's earliest moments.
