Pulsed Magnetic Field Generation and Technology
Summary
Pulsed magnetic field generation encompasses a suite of techniques that deliver intense, time-varying magnetic fields for exploration of material properties, high-energy physics, biomedical imaging and industrial processing. Central to this technology is the rapid discharge of energy stored in capacitor banks or specialised pulse-forming networks into inductive coils, producing fields that can exceed tens of tesla for durations ranging from microseconds to milliseconds. Advances in switch technology, thermal management and coil design have enabled generation of flat-top pulses with low ripple, precise waveform control and scalability from laboratory-scale solenoids to multi-coil hybrid systems. Key challenges include mechanical stresses induced by Lorentz forces, Joule heating in resistive conductors, and synchronisation of multi-bank discharges. Emerging approaches exploit genetic-algorithm-guided optimisation of discharge parameters and novel coil geometries to extend pulse duration, improve field homogeneity and reduce electrical losses. These capabilities underpin cutting-edge studies in high-pressure physics, ultrafast magnetism and unilaterally monitored nuclear magnetic resonance, and hold promise for future portable diagnostic devices and advanced welding processes.
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Pulsed Magnetic Field Generation and Technology publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in pulsed magnetic field generation and technology across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Pulsed magnetic field: A rapidly varying magnetic flux, typically produced by discharging electrical energy into a coil over microsecond to millisecond timescales.
Capacitor bank: An assembly of capacitors connected to store and release large electrical energy in a controlled pulse.
Pulse-forming network: An arrangement of inductors, capacitors and switches designed to shape and time the current waveform delivered to a load.
Flat-top pulse: A magnetic field waveform featuring a plateau of nearly constant amplitude for a specified duration.
Larmor precession: The characteristic precession frequency of magnetic moments in a static magnetic field, central to NMR applications.
Ripple: The variation or fluctuation in field strength during the nominally steady segment of a pulse.
References
- The pulsed high magnetic field facility and scientific research at Wuhan National High Magnetic Field Center. Matter and Radiation at Extremes (2017).
- Generation of a Flat-Top Magnetic Field With Multiple-Capacitor Power Supply. IEEE Access (2022).
- Pulsed magnetic field generation suited for low-field unilateral nuclear magnetic resonance systems. AIP Advances (2018).
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