Permanent magnets are wonderful tools, but they have an inherent drawback depending on the application: you can’t turn their magnetism “on” and “off” with ease. Unless the magnet becomes too hot or is demagnetized by a nearby force, it will generate a magnetic force indefinitely. To handle permanent magnets, you need to use a certain level of care, which makes them potentially difficult and even hazardous to store, handle, and transport. Storage requires planning because you need to avoid interactions with any electronics, while transport demands extra care as magnets may damage other goods or even interfere with navigation software.  While electromagnets are effective alternatives, they come with their own unique drawbacks. In addition to requiring extreme amounts of energy, they heat up quickly and can become dangerous if powered too high. Because both permanent and electromagnets have their cons, it would be beneficial to have an alternative. Well, researchers have actually discovered an answer, and it could change the way manufacturers use and incorporate magnets into their products and/or facilities.  Shot with Lasers It might sound like science fiction, but researchers in Germany and the United States have discovered a way to “write” and “delete magnetism by using powerful lasers. It all starts with an iron-aluminum alloy, composed of iron atoms separated by layers of aluminum atoms.  When researchers blast the alloy with a laser for a millionth of a billionth of a second — yes, you read that right! — the aluminum layer melts, resulting in random movement of the iron and aluminum atoms. Inevitably, iron particles will come together and behave like magnets. That’s what they define as the “writing” process.  To then reverse the process, researchers blast the alloy with a weaker laser that melts only a thin layer of atoms, rearranging them once again into their original, well-ordered structure. That’s referred to as the “deletion” process. Once the atoms are back in their original structure, the magnetism cedes.  Real-World Applications This technology — a laser’s ability to transform an inert metal into a strong magnet — could potentially revolutionize multiple industries. In fact, it would have an immediate impact in material processing, optical technology, and data storage, to name a few. With this kind of technology, there would be no concern over the safety of transporting, storing, or handling the product as it would remain inert until the laser was used to activate or “write” magnetism, improving both safety conditions and levels of efficiency. Of course, the true strength of these magnets has not yet been determined. At this point, it’s not clear whether the resulting magnet can compare to neodymium, which is currently the strongest rare earth magnet available. If these laser-activated magnets prove to be strong and durable, they could have a long and prosperous future.  Permanent Magnets from Apex Magnets When you need consistent, powerful magnets, put your trust in Apex. We provide a wide variety of permanent, rare earth magnets with sizes and strengths. If you aren’t sure what you need, contact our friendly sales team for advice on picking the best product for you.