Chalmers and UAB researchers develop method to shape magnetic fields

Physicists from Chalmers University of Technology and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) have developed a new method that transforms the magnetic field from a single source, such as a coil or a permanent magnet, into a broad class of predetermined magnetic fields with exact mathematical precision.

The breakthrough, known as "magnetic omniconversion," addresses the need to design and build complex, specialized magnets or coil systems for each individual application. The method allows simple magnetic sources to be used for a wider range of applications, including in quantum computers, MRI scanners, and particle accelerators.

The researchers describe the technique as a "magnetic sculptor." By combining materials that either attract or repel magnetic fields, such as ferromagnetic and superconducting materials, they can steer and reshape a magnetic field into precisely the desired form. A carefully calculated geometry ensures the magnetic field distributes over space with high precision.

The method was demonstrated experimentally by building a prototype that transformed the non-uniform magnetic field from a simple coil into an almost perfectly uniform field. The experiment used a superconducting aluminum tube and cast-iron components, cooled to near absolute zero. Measurements confirmed that the magnetic field inside the device closely matched the researchers' calculations. The study was published in Science Advances, and the researchers have filed a patent application for the technology.

Professor Witlef Wieczorek at Chalmers University of Technology believes the magnetic omniconversion approach can contribute to the development of advanced instrumentation for quantum technologies and other fields where precise spatial control of magnetic fields is essential.