Chinese Academy of Sciences creates. Tesla's strong magnetic field breaks record

On [year, month, day], the fully superconducting magnet developed by the Institute of Plasma Physics at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, set this figure as a new world standard. This is not an accidental breakthrough in the laboratory but a milestone in China's comprehensive leadership in the field of ultra-high-field superconducting technology—from core materials to manufacturing processes, % independently controllable.

Not just numbers, but the breakthrough of materials and engineering limits.

In the world of superconducting magnets, tesla is the fundamental unit for measuring magnetic field strength, and steady-state refers to the ability to operate continuously and stably. Previously, the global record for the highest steady-state magnetic field was held by the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in the United States at 32 tesla. China's achievement of 35.1 tesla not only surpasses this numerical value but also marks the first time humanity has pushed the stable operating magnetic field of a fully superconducting magnet into the 35 tesla range.

Behind this breakthrough lies a composite design scheme of high-temperature superconducting inserts combined with low-temperature superconducting magnets. Simply put, it's like equipping the magnet with dual-layer armor: the outer layer of low-temperature superconducting magnets provides the foundational magnetic field, while the inner layer of high-temperature superconducting magnets acts like a super amplifier, superimposing an ultra-strong magnetic field within an extremely small space. However, the fabrication difficulty of this armor is beyond imagination—when the magnetic field strength exceeds 30 tesla, enormous electromagnetic stress is generated inside the superconducting material, enough to shatter precision components instantly. Through multi-physics field collaborative optimization technology, the research team controlled the stress distribution accuracy within 0.1 megapascal, equivalent to evenly distributing the weight of a thousand kilograms on a single strand of hair. Test data shows that the magnet operated stably at 35.1 tesla for 30 minutes, with magnetic field fluctuations less than 0.001 tesla. This level of stability has amazed international peers: the Chinese team has truly "figured out the temperament" of superconducting magnets.

More importantly, all core aspects, from superconducting tapes to cryogenic refrigeration systems, and from magnet structure design to precision machining processes, have achieved localization. For example, the second-generation high-temperature superconducting tape independently developed by the team has reached a world-leading level in critical current density. A single tape can carry a current equivalent to that of 1,000 ordinary copper wires, while its cost is only 60% of that of imported products. This full-chain autonomy and control over materials, design, and manufacturing has completely broken the foreign technological monopoly in the field of ultra-high-field magnets, clearing the way for subsequent industrial applications by removing critical bottlenecks.

How does superconducting technology reshape the industrial landscape?

Many people might ask: How far is the 35.1 Tesla magnet from our daily lives? In fact, it acts like a super technological engine, driving industrial upgrades across multiple fields.

In the field of healthcare, ultra-high-field magnets are the core of next-generation magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices. Currently, the commonly used 1.5T or 3.0T systems in hospitals have limited diagnostic accuracy for early-stage tumors and neurodegenerative diseases. In contrast, ultra-high-field MRI supported by 7.0T magnets enables imaging of protein molecules within individual cells, making early screening for diseases such as Alzheimer's possible. More importantly, with the maturation of domestic superconducting magnet technology, the cost of related medical equipment is expected to decrease by over 50%, driving the popularization and accessibility of high-end medical devices.

In the fields of energy and transportation, the application of superconducting magnets will bring revolutionary changes. For example, in high-efficiency power transmission systems based on superconducting technology, transmission losses can be reduced from the % of traditional cables to below %. If implemented nationwide, this could save an amount of electricity equivalent to the annual output of the Three Gorges Power Station. In the field of maglev transportation, the strong magnetic field generated by -level magnets can increase the levitation height of trains to over centimeters, enhance anti-interference capabilities by times, and provide technical support for future vacuum tube maglev trains with speeds exceeding kilometers per hour.

The aerospace field has also benefited significantly. Key equipment such as electromagnetic propulsion systems for spacecraft and space environment simulators require strong magnetic field environments. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation has already collaborated with the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, planning to apply superconducting magnet technology to the electromagnetic catapult system of the new generation of heavy-lift launch vehicles, which is expected to reduce satellite launch costs by %.

Notably, the high-temperature superconducting materials industry is entering a period of explosive growth. Data shows that the global high-temperature superconducting market size in 2024 is approximately $8 billion. With the breakthrough of China's 35.1T magnet technology, it is projected that by 2030, the domestic demand for superconducting materials will increase tenfold, driving the scale of upstream and downstream industries to exceed 100 billion yuan. Anhui, Shanghai, Sichuan, and other regions have already established superconducting industry clusters, forming a complete industrial chain from material R&D to magnet manufacturing and application demonstration. Orders for a superconducting company in Hefei are already scheduled until 2026, with its products exported to 12 countries.

The Underlying Logic of Transitioning from Following to Leading

35.1 The breakthrough in Tesla magnets is not accidental. Looking back at the development of China's superconducting technology, it is not difficult to identify a clear path of breakthrough: guided by national strategic needs, integrating the strengths of research institutions and enterprises, and achieving a leap from technological catch-up to standard-setting through full-chain research spanning fundamental research, key technologies, and industrial applications.

In the fundamental research phase, the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with universities such as Tsinghua University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, undertook the National Key R&D Program on superconducting materials and devices for 10 consecutive years, with a cumulative investment exceeding 2 billion yuan. They established the world's only superconducting material performance testing platform covering temperatures from -271°C to room temperature. During the key technology development phase, the team adopted a "challenge and leadership" mechanism, breaking down tough challenges such as magnet stress control and cryogenic refrigeration into 23 technical modules. These modules were tackled jointly by enterprises, universities, and research institutes, ultimately resulting in 138 core patents.

This model of deep integration among industry, academia, research, and application is becoming the standard for technological innovation in China. For example, in the preparation of superconducting tapes, the research team collaborated with an enterprise in Yunnan to establish a pilot-scale production base, transforming laboratory achievements into mass production processes. Within just 18 months, the yield rate of the tapes increased from 30% to 92%. As Academician Chen Liquan of the Chinese Academy of Engineering commented: The breakthrough of the 35.1 Tesla magnet demonstrates that China has established an efficient technological innovation ecosystem. This system is capable of tackling the 'hard challenges' in fundamental research while rapidly bridging the 'last mile' of industrialization.

How can superconducting technology rewrite international rules?

In the field of technology, the right to set standards is often more important than the technology itself. China's breakthrough in developing a 35.1 Tesla fully superconducting magnet not only breaks the monopoly of Europe and the United States in the ultra-high magnetic field domain but also secures greater influence in the formulation of international standards.

Currently, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is developing safety standards for superconducting magnets. Leveraging operational data from the 35.1 Tesla magnet, the Chinese team has led the drafting of three international standards, including "Test Methods for Stress in Ultra-High Field Superconducting Magnets" and "Application Guidelines for High-Temperature Superconducting Tapes." This marks the first time China has taken the lead in formulating international standards in the field of superconducting magnets. Meanwhile, the High Magnetic Field Laboratory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has signed cooperation agreements with Germany's Helmholtz Association, Japan's National Institute for Materials Science, and other institutions to share the experimental platform of the 35.1 Tesla magnet, attracting top global scientists to conduct cutting-edge research in China. This model of technology export, standard export, and platform sharing is reshaping the global cooperation landscape in superconducting technology.

The more profound impact lies in the fact that breakthroughs in superconducting technology will accelerate the progress of the green technology revolution. According to predictions by the International Energy Agency, by 2050, 30% of global energy consumption will rely on superconducting technology. China's leading position in the field of fully superconducting magnets is expected to drive global energy transformation toward a more efficient and lower-carbon direction.