Physicists Circumvent Centuries-old Theory to Cancel Magnetic Fields
Phoenix666 writes:
Physicists circumvent centuries-old theory to cancel magnetic fields:
A team of scientists including two physicists at the University of Sussex has found a way to circumvent a 178-year old theory which means they can effectively cancel magnetic fields at a distance. They are the first to be able to do so in a way which has practical benefits.
[...] "Earnshaw's Theorem" from 1842 limits the ability to shape magnetic fields. The team were able to calculate an innovative way to circumvent this theory in order to effectively cancel other magnetic fields which can confuse readings in experiments.
In practical terms, they achieved this through creating a device comprised of a careful arrangement of electrical wires. This creates additional fields and so counteracts the effects of the unwanted magnetic field. Scientists have been struggling with this challenge for years but now the team has found a new strategy to deal with these problematic fields. While a similar effect has been achieved at much higher frequencies, this is the first time it has been achieved at low frequencies and static fields -- such as biological frequencies -- which will unlock a host of useful applications.
Journal Reference:
Rosa Mach-Batlle, Mark G. Bason, Nuria Del-Valle, et al. Tailoring Magnetic Fields in Inaccessible Regions, Physical Review Letters (DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.177204)
The finding has potential application in quantum technology and in medicine.
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