What are Superconducting Magnets?

Superconducting magnets are used in MRIs, Maglev trains, particle accelerators and other technologies that often use magnetism and high power conditions to operate. What are superconducting magnets? First, in order to understand what superconducting magnets are we should discuss superconductors and electromagnets.

Superconductors

Superconductors are certain materials that are capable of producing zero electrical resistance. The best superconductors carry an electric current without losing any energy in the process.

Electromagnets

Electromagnets are a type of magnet that holds its magnetism temporarily. Unlike permanent magnets, electromagnets can be turned on and off and rely on an electric current to attract magnetic objects. They are usually created by using a source of electricity like a battery, a permanent rare earth magnet, and a coil of wire. To learn more about electromagnets or to build your own, check out our blog dedicated to electromagnets here.

Superconducting Magnets

Superconducting magnets are electromagnets that are created using superconducting wire. The first commercial type of superconducting wire was created by Westinghouse in 1962 using  niobium-titanium alloy. Temperature plays an important part in many applications of these types of magnets. Helium cooling or mechanical cooling is used to bring the material to its cryogenic state, or the freezing temperature at which the zero electrical resistance is achieved. If you have ever seen a magnet or a superconductor levitate above other magnets after being submersed in liquid nitrogen, then you have seen superconductivity in action. If you’d like to experiment with superconductivity and magnetism, check out this magnetic levitation science experiment. Photo by Mariusz.stepien