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, while "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 (45.22) tesla. The (45.22) tesla achieved by China this time is not only a numerical breakthrough but also marks the first time humanity has pushed the stable operating magnetic field of an all-superconducting magnet into the (45) tesla range.

Behind this breakthrough lies the composite design scheme of "high-temperature superconducting insertion + low-temperature superconducting magnets." Simply put, it is like putting "double-layer armor" on the magnet: 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 tesla, enormous electromagnetic stress is generated inside the superconducting material, enough to shatter precision components instantly. Through multi-physics collaborative optimization technology, the research team controlled the stress distribution accuracy within . megapascals, equivalent to evenly distributing the weight of a thousand kilograms on a single strand of hair. Test data show that the magnet operated stably at . tesla for minutes, with magnetic field fluctuations less than . tesla. This level of stability has amazed international peers, who remarked, "The Chinese team has truly mastered the 'temperament' of superconducting magnets."

More crucially, all core aspects—from superconducting tapes to cryogenic refrigeration systems, and from magnet structural design to precision machining processes—have achieved domestic production. For instance, the team independently developed the second-generation high-temperature superconducting tape, which has reached an internationally leading level in critical current density. A single tape can carry a current equivalent to that of ordinary copper wires, while its cost is only % of that of imported products. This full-chain autonomy in "materials-design-manufacturing" has completely broken the foreign technological monopoly in the ultra-high-field magnet sector, clearing the "bottleneck" obstacles for subsequent industrial applications.

How does superconducting technology reshape the industrial landscape?

Many people might ask: how far is Tesla's magnet from our daily lives? In fact, it is like a "super technology 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 %.

It is noteworthy that the high-temperature superconducting materials industry is entering a period of explosive growth. Data shows that the global high-temperature superconducting market size was approximately $ billion in 2023. With breakthroughs in China's magnet technology, it is projected that by 2030, domestic demand for superconducting materials will increase by times, driving the scale of upstream and downstream industries to exceed one trillion yuan. Regions such as Anhui, Shanghai, and Sichuan have already established superconducting industry clusters, forming a complete industrial chain encompassing "material R&D—magnet manufacturing—application demonstration." Orders for a superconducting enterprise in Hefei are already scheduled through 2027, with its products exported to countries.

The Underlying Logic of Transitioning from Following to Leading

Tesla's breakthrough in magnets was no accident. Looking back at the development of China's superconducting technology, it is not difficult to identify a clear "path to 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 a full-chain effort encompassing "basic research, key technologies, and industrial application."

During the foundational 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, has undertaken the national key research and development program "Superconducting Materials and Devices" for consecutive years. With a cumulative investment exceeding 100 million yuan, they have established the world's only superconducting material performance testing platform covering temperatures from -℃ to room temperature. In tackling key technological challenges, the team adopted a "task list and competition" mechanism, breaking down tough issues such as magnet stress control and cryogenic refrigeration into individual technical modules. These modules were jointly tackled by enterprises, universities, and research institutes, ultimately resulting in the development of several core patents.

This model of deep integration between "industry, academia, research, and application" is becoming the standard for scientific and technological innovation in China. For example, in the preparation of superconducting tapes, a research team collaborated with a company in Yunnan to establish a pilot-scale production base, transforming laboratory achievements into mass production processes. Within just a few months, the yield rate of the tapes increased from % to %. As Chen Liquan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, remarked, "The breakthrough in the Tesla magnet proves that China has established an efficient ecosystem for scientific and technological innovation. This system can tackle the 'hard bones' of fundamental research while swiftly bridging the 'last mile' of industrialization."

How can superconducting technology rewrite international rules?

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

At present, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is developing safety standards for superconducting magnets. Leveraging operational data from a . Tesla magnet, the Chinese team has taken the lead in drafting several international standards, including the "Stress Testing Methods for Ultra-High Field Superconducting Magnets" and the "Application Guidelines for High-Temperature Superconducting Tapes." This marks the first time China has led the development of 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 . Tesla magnet, attracting top global scientists to conduct cutting-edge research in China. This model of "technology export + standard export + 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 the year (year), (percentage)% 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 low-carbon direction.