Broschüre EMFL English

9 search for new permanent magnets Most magnets used in everyday applications such as super strong kitchen magnets or the magnets found in wind turbines and cars contain neodymium, a rare-earth element. Because one day, we will be running out of this element and because its use is bad for the environment, alternative options are needed. As such, researchers are working on developing materials with neodymium-like properties or brand new magnetic materials that can be used to create smaller, more efficient electric motors. Magnetic fields can help scientists reveal the hidden physical properties of such materials. manipulate gravity Every single molecule on this planet is formed in the realm of gravity, regardless of whether it’s nature-made or man-made. This makes it very difficult to discern the influence of gravity on the molecules’ form and function. Because the EMFL magnets are so strong, they can, for instance, levitate a droplet of water – which makes them ideal tools for studying the effects of gravity. As an extra-added bonus, the gravitational force can be scaled or even reversed. develop superconductor applications Superconductivity is a unique property of matter, which corresponds to a state of zero electrical resistivity where a magnetic field can be completely expelled from the material. This phenomenon is usually restricted to low temperatures, and the highest-temperature superconductors discovered to date exist in this state only at tem- peratures lower than minus 100 degrees Celsius. In the EMFL labs, a lot of effort goes into the application of high-temperature super- conductivity to energy storage and transport, but also into developing magnetic levitation.

Broschüre EMFL English

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