Precisely controlled magnetic fields are essential for technologies ranging from medical imaging and particle physics to quantum technologies and fusion energy. Researchers at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and at Chalmers University of Technology have now developed a new method that could make it much easier to create magnetic fields tailored to different applications.
Artistic impression of the magnetic omniconverter concept: An external magnetic field is shaped by spherical surfaces and a conical surface into a desired magnetic field configuration resembling the one of a monopole. Illustration: BOID/Chalmers
The method, known as magnetic omniconversion, makes it possible to transform the magnetic field generated by a simple source, such as a coil or permanent magnet, into a broad range of predetermined magnetic fields with mathematical precision. Instead of designing complex magnets or coil systems for each individual application, researchers can use specially arranged magnetic and superconducting materials to reshape an existing field into the desired configuration.
“This is a universal method that removes previous limitations on how accurately an existing magnetic field can be transformed into another one,” says Witlef Wieczorek, SuperMeQ coordinator and one of the study’s co-authors.
The researchers demonstrated the concept experimentally by transforming the non-uniform magnetic field produced by a simple coil into an almost perfectly uniform field. The results closely matched their theoretical predictions, providing an important proof of concept.
The technology could ultimately contribute to the development of more advanced scientific instruments, particularly in areas such as quantum technology where precise control of magnetic fields is critical. A patent application has been filed for the method.
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The research was supported by several funding sources, the SuperMeQ project, the European Research Council, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, and Spanish research funding.
The study, Magnetic omniconversion: Source-independent molding of magnetostatic fields, was published in Science Advances.