Membership of the UK to the European Magnetic Field Laboratory

Lead Research Organisation: University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Physics & Astronomy

Abstract

Magnetic fields are powerful tools for studying the properties of matter and are essential for modern science. They were crucial for the ground-breaking research that led to 20 Nobel prizes in Physics, Chemistry and Medicine, most recently for the development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI - P. Mansfield, 2003 Nobel Prize for Medicine) and for research on graphene (A. Geim and K.S. Novoselov, 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics), and will continue to underpin future scientific and technological developments by providing a powerful means of understanding and manipulating matter.

This research is constantly refreshed by the discovery of new systems and requires magnetic field strengths that exceed those commonly available in University laboratories. Since the length scale associated with a magnetic field is inversely proportional to the square root of the field strength, large magnetic fields, on the order of 100 Tesla, are needed to probe nanometre length scales, electron-electron interactions, confinement and magnetic energies, and facilitating the discovery of new states of matter. The complexity of the physics involved in cutting-edge materials also necessitates the use of advanced characterization techniques, the execution of high-field experiments with high spatial and energy resolution over a wide range of temperatures down to millikelvin, or in complex environments, such as high-pressure, and the association of high magnetic fields with large instruments, such as neutron sources, synchrotrons, and free electron lasers.

The membership of the UK to the European Magnetic Field Laboratory (EMFL) will enable the UK community to access a well-established mid-range facility for research with high magnetic fields, to develop new capabilities and to secure the direct involvement of the UK in long-term, large scale projects that require international cooperation, for example by integrating high magnetic fields with neutron and synchrotron sources for which a large user community exists in the UK. The synergy of the EMFL with other large-scale international facilities is unprecedented and has the potential to bring the UK to the forefront of important scientific and technological developments.

Planned Impact

"UK leadership in key scientific areas"
Access to high magnetic fields will accelerate progress towards major scientific breakthroughs and will provide a platform to support further expansion of several research areas amongst academic and industrial groups on the 5-10 year timescale and beyond. The increased collaboration and harmonization of the work within the EMFL has already led to the establishment of a strong and competitive community of high magnetic fields within Europe. The current UK access to the EMFL and the wide range of research activities on high magnetic fields indicate that there will be a continuous fast development of both science and technologies over the next two decades. Globally the USA is still dominant in this field because of its concentrated efforts in the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, Los Alamos and Gainesville. A coordinated approach within Europe is now required to remain competitive, stimulate innovation and the economy. This will be further facilitated by the EU's Horizon 2020 that has identified high magnetic fields as a priority area. As competition from other countries increases, international cooperation with the EU is a must for the UK to remain a competitive partner and to be able to remain an attractive location for carrying out research and innovation.

"Transformational impact on technology, and benefits for the UK economy and society"
Several UK-based companies (Cryogenic Limited, Oxford Instruments plc, Siemens Magnet Technology, Agilent Technologies, Hitachi, Toshiba, e2v technologies etc.) will benefit from establishing a permanent forum to share knowledge and expertise with the UK users. UK laboratories were among the first in the world to develop technologies to build superconducting magnets, which are now used in MRI systems in every hospital. The technology advances that make possible the construction of high field magnets will facilitate the construction of cheaper and more efficient magnets. Also, research on the magnetic properties of technologically-relevant materials, such as high-temperature superconductors, and on magnet design and construction can have substantial economic benefits. For example, electric motors and generators could operate with improved efficiency and electric power could be transmitted over long distances more efficiently. The infrastructure and installation needed to create these high fields are unique and companies involved will benefit from the knowhow they gain by designing products for them.

"Skills and training"
The training and expertise of numerous post-doctoral researchers and PhD students will be enhanced through their access to high magnetic fields, high precision measurements, new experimental techniques, and new magnet technologies. Student training will fill several skills gaps including superconductivity and magnetism, materials and devices, materials for next generation electronics, and quantum information. This cohort will provide a highly significant impact through the availability of research staff to support the UK economy over the next decade.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description The EMFL develops and operates high magnetic field facilities for scientific research and technological developments. The importance of high magnetic fields has been recognized worldwide, including by the USA National Research Council [1], the European Commission [2] and the EPSRC, which funded the UK Membership of the EMFL in 2015 [3].

Importance and breadth of the science enabled by the facility
The research at the EMFL is relevant to different disciplines (physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering) and makes use of a wide range of experimental techniques, such as thermal and electrical transport, thermodynamic characterization, magnetization, optical spectroscopy, and magnetic resonance. High-field experiments can be executed with high spatial and energy resolution over a wide range of temperatures down to the millikelvin range, in complex environments, such as high-pressure, and in combination with other large instruments, such as neutron sources, synchrotrons, and free electron lasers. We describe below the science enabled by these unique capabilities, focussing on different themes.
"Strongly Correlated Electron Systems"
High magnetic fields provide a tool to influence magnetic and electronic interactions in correlated electron systems whose understanding represents one of the outstanding challenges in modern condensed matter physics. Electron-electron interactions can cause unconventional superconductivity, quantum criticality, and new forms of magnetic and charge ordering. The combination of high magnetic fields with high precision, low temperature specific heat measurements, and transport studies at high pressure will enable a wide-ranging research programme on superconductors, heavy fermion compounds, quantum spin liquids and other frustrated magnets, providing the foundations for the discovery of new phenomena, materials and technologies.
"Probing and manipulating quantum states"
The small magnetic length scales associated with high magnetic fields means that quantum systems (quantum dots, molecular clusters, etc) and materials (organic and inorganic perovskites, van der Waals crystals, etc) can be investigated at the nanoscale in a reversible and reproducible way. High magnetic fields are required to probe and manipulate spin Zeeman energies, single particle and excitonic states, and the coupling between individual spins and to the environment in quantum devices. This can enable the development of new systems for optoelectronics, such as perovskites for photovoltaics, and the understanding of coherence/entanglement in quantum systems with the potential to transform metrology, communication, and quantum information.
"Quantum Magnetism and Nanoscale Design of Functional Materials"
Magnetic interactions constrained to low dimensions (e.g. in molecular magnets or magnetic nanoparticles) can lead to exotic physical properties of fundamental and technological interest. High magnetic fields will enable the phase diagrams of these nanoscale systems to be mapped out and understood. Also, the magnetic alignment of organic materials, polymers, molecular aggregates and nanostructures provides a route for investigating the relationship between material structure and functionalities with potential applications in molecular electronics, new pharmaceutical compounds, catalysis, etc.
"Magnetic Levitation and Magneto-science"
High field magnets can be used to effectively tune the gravitational forces on Earth to study a wide range of phenomena spanning from the exploration of fluids and granular systems to the behaviour of biological organisms in weightless conditions. The strength of the magnetic field is critical to simulate the reduced-gravity conditions and study the effects of zero gravity on many systems, ranging from boiling bubbles in liquid hydrogen to living cells. The use of high magnetic fields on traditional metallurgy has also gained significant interest: magnetic fields can be used to investigate the solidification of microstructures and unravel the thermo-physical properties of highly reactive materials, for example, titanium alloys for use in aero-engines, zirconium for nuclear applications, and lithium for nuclear fusion. Large magnets provide new possibilities to investigate liquid metal levitation for metal matrix nano-composites production. Magnets suitable for combined action of steady and alternating fields offer a new perspective to traditional induction melting techniques (melting large volumes, controlling turbulence, achieving high superheat).

Cross-disciplinary research and councils remits
Research in high magnetic fields spans the breadth of the EPSRC remit, it underpins the Energy, Quantum Technologies and Manufacturing themes, and is also relevant to the BBSRC and MRC research portfolios. This research can be both single discipline and interdisciplinary, and is essential to meet several societal and economic challenges such as health, security and energy that rely on fundamental science for transformative solutions.

References
[1] http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18355
[2] https://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-08-1913_en.htm
[3] https://epsrc.ukri.org/research/facilities/access/nationalresearch/emfl/
Exploitation Route 1. Impact on Knowledge: The UK community is already leading many research areas and exploit the exciting opportunities that high magnetic fields provide. A number of innovations are across several disciplines and in novel technologies for quantum information, communications, metrology, energy, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and security.

2. Impact on People: The availability of state-of-the-art facilities to PhD students, research fellows and technical professionals promote a new generation of leaders and technologists. This cohort will provide a significant impact through the availability of research staff to expand and exploit the research over the next decade. For example, Nobel laureate K. Novoselov defended his PhD in 2004 at the EMFL-Nijmegen before moving to Manchester.

3. Impact on Economy and Society: Several UK-based companies (AstraZeneca, Cryogenic Limited, Oxford Instruments, Siemens Magnet Technology, Hitachi, Toshiba, etc.) benefit from establishing a forum to share knowledge and expertise with UK users. UK laboratories were among the first in the world to develop technologies to build superconducting magnets. Some of the magnet technologies developed at high fields can be adapted to lower fields to produce better MRI magnets, magnetic beam guides for proton therapy, and magnetic levitators for zero-gravity protein crystal growth. Research on the properties of technologically-relevant materials, such as high-temperature superconductors, perovskites, etc, can also have substantial economic benefits. For example, electric motors and generators could operate with improved efficiency and electric power could be transmitted over long distances more efficiently. Innovative, clean and low-cost technologies for energy generation can address the increasing energy demands of society. Magnetic fields can also be used in the cleaning of waste fluids and gases in industrial processes through magnetic-separation techniques.
Sectors Education,Electronics,Energy,Environment,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology

 
Description High magnetic fields form part of the fabric of industrial innovation, contributing in three distinct ways: (i) they are often involved in the very early stages of research into new technological materials, (ii) they can be used to change or improve a material's properties, and (iii) the technological challenges raised in attaining an operational high field installations invariably stimulate technical development programs in a number of related sectors. These contributions are explained in more detail below. 1. New materials at an early stage High field laboratories serve as an excellent antenna for the discovery of new phenomena in nascent materials whose quality, when first synthesized, is often limited. It took over twenty years, for example, before the combination of high purity single crystals and high-resolution experiments at magnetic field facilities enabled the seminal discovery of quantum oscillations in high temperature superconductors. The involvement of the EMFL in the early stages of graphene research is another important example. Graphene is now on course to become one of the most important materials of the 21st Century, a material with a seemingly endless list of striking physical properties and a flagship enterprise for the whole of the EU, with the National Graphene Institute in Manchester as a striking example. Indeed, the EMFL is currently working closely with a SME in Nijmegen to use high magnetic fields to test the mobility of individual graphene sheets for their use in gas sensors. The socio-economic impact of high field science is therefore clearly evident. However, the time span between the first high-field experiments and the launch of a new product on the market is often more than 10 years. This large time span means that the link between the first groundbreaking experiments on a new material or device performed in a high field facility and its commercialization is often not recognized. Usually, new materials of potential industrial impact are studied in these facilities by scientists from institutes and universities and the outcome of these experiments is published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, from which moment on it becomes available to the public and industry. A collaboration between the UK users, the EMFL facilities and industry has led to the award of a 2.9 M€ H2020 FET-OPEN grant entitled "Magnetic Control of Polymorphism in Pharmaceutical Compounds" (MagnaPharm). The proposal was initiated by Simon Hall (Bristol) after the successful experiments done in Nijmegen and published in Nature Communications: (J. Potticary, et al: Nature Commun. 7 (2016), 11555). The consortium consists of two UK universities (Bristol and UCL), one Irish university (Limerick) and the EMFL facility in Nijmegen. It was set up to direct polymorphism in pharmaceutical compounds through crystallization in high magnetic fields, which will have a transformative effect on almost all pharmaceutical compounds, and hence on society. Recently, within MagnaPharm new pharmaceuticals have been identified whose polymorphism could be steered by applying magnetic fields (flufenamic acid, carbamazepine) and several others where macromorphological changes could be induced (ibuprofen, indomethacin). Furthermore, new equipment, a so-called Brownian microscope, has been developed and tested to study the influence of magnetic fields on crystal nucleation. 2. Improve material's properties In addition to the exploration of new materials, high magnetic fields can also be employed to modify the properties of an existing material. A striking example of this is the electromagnetic forming done on metallic systems at the pulsed magnetic field facilities around the world. The strong time dependence in a short, intense magnetic pulse generates remarkably strong magnetic forces that can deform sheet metals into the required shape or even drive holes through it. In some cases, this also leads to an increase in the material's strength, or elastic modulus. To improve the industrial production of razor blades, a study was performed to investigate the influence of very strong magnetic fields on the isothermal formation kinetics of the (ferromagnetic) martensite phase in a (paramagnetic) stainless steel microstructure at constant temperatures around 230 K, to harden blades of Sandvik NanoflexTM, a steel alloy used for surgical knives and razors. The martensite phase transition takes 1-2 days at 230 K in the absence of an applied magnetic field. In fields of order 30 T, however, the process was found to speed up dramatically, taking just a few seconds to complete. In Grenoble (LNCMI) the Swiss watch-company Omega has been successfully testing the effects of high magnetic fields on its products. 3. Technological breakthroughs through development of high magnetic fields The magnets available in the EMFL facilities are designed to generate the highest fields and operate at the limits of their mechanical strength. To be able to generate such high fields a dedicated power supply and cooling system are required to operate the in-house designed magnets. The requirements for the magnets and the installation are close to the technical limits. For industry it is technologically challenging to improve their products to meet the demands of both the facilities (power supply, cooling installation) and magnet technology groups (CuAg alloys, Zylon®, superconductors etc). EMFL works therefore closely with industry and industrial suppliers. In many cases, this interaction has led to a number of additional benefits for the companies concerned. The EMFL cooperates with Oxford Instruments Nanotechnology Tools Limited (Tubney Woods, Abingdon, OX13 5QX), an internationally leading industrial vendor of superconducting magnets and low-temperature technology for research and industry. In particular, HLD-EMFL, Oxford Instruments and Bruker-OST (Carteret, NJ, U.S.A) cooperate in developing high-temperature superconducting insert coils, which are tested in the bore of the 19 T /150 mm LTS magnet at HLD-EMFL at various field and forced-quench conditions. The project aims at developing a new generation of 25 T+ all-superconducting user magnets, focussing on the use of robust Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 (Bi-2212) round composite wires. The participating partners have presented results of the project at various international conferences (EUCAS 2017, MT 2017 and ASC 2018). This activity provides an opportunity to develop the technology for the next-generation standard of strong superconducting research magnets with a broad application potential in fundamental and applied research comprising disciplines in solid-state physics, material and life sciences. In applications for high-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurement techniques, these magnets might also be used for advanced medical research. Oxford Instruments, its subcontractors, as well as the wider economic environment, both in UK and in participating countries, will benefit from this activity. The roadmap for further development of this technology is clear and will involve a growing collaboration between Oxford Instruments and the EMFL. 4. Industry as a supplier The world-record capacitor bank of the HLD-Dresden is placed by the company Rheinmetall. From the beginning onwards they have been strongly involved in the construction of the capacitor bank. It is a technological challenge to store and release 50MJ in a few milliseconds in a safe way. The HFML-Nijmegen state-of-the-art cooling system was realized by the company Wolter & Dros which has put this project on their reference list. The project management, the design of the cooling installation and the building were all realized in collaboration with Royal Haskoning, an international engineering company based in Nijmegen. This collaboration has been very fruitful and has served as a reference project for that company too, strengthening relations between industry and academia. Again, the experience gained with advanced cooling systems by Royal Haskoning through the work done for the HFML has been beneficial in acquiring new markets and clients. A major upgrade of the Grenoble (LNCMI) 24 MW power supply has being realised by the French electrotechnical company BASIS. In particular, the targeted stability of better than 10 ppm represents a major breakthrough in high power engineering. Recent updates on non-academic impact are described below. 1. EMFL-Paragraf partnership on magnetic field sensors Last year the ongoing collaboration between the EMFL and the UK start-up company Paragraf (https://www.paragraf.com/) has been finalized with the successful testing of a Graphene Hall sensor, which is now on the market. 2. EMFL - European High Field MRI consortium EMFL has been contacted has established an important link with the European High Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) community. In several countries (UK, Netherlands, France, Germany) projects and initiatives exist to realize and exploit 11.7/14 T whole-body MRI scanners. EMFL has organized the formation of a panel of independent magnet experts to advice on the designs of MRI magnets by European companies. The committee, chaired by the president of the European Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Biology, has evaluated magnet designs for the Dutch initiative. Experiences are shared amongst the different members of the consortium, which is relevant for the UK MRI community and the UK magnet technology companies. 3. EMFL- Oxford Instruments partnership The EMFL has a long-standing collaboration with Oxford Instruments Nanotechnology Tools Limited (Tubney Woods, Abingdon), an internationally leading industrial vendor of superconducting magnets and low-temperature technology for research and industry. This collaboration has recently been further strengthened. Oxford Instruments is partner in two EMFL coordinated EU Horizon 2020 grants. ISABEL (2020-2023, 4.9 M€, 18 partners) aims to improve the sustainability of EMFL. Within the ISABEL project, Oxford Instruments will help bridging the EMFL-industry gap and contribute to the establishment of a magnet technology roadmap. Within the SuperEMFL project (2021-2024, 2.9 M€, 11 partners) EMFL and Oxford Instruments are working together on the design of beyond-state-of-the-art magnets, combining low- and high-temperature superconductor technology, to develop all-superconducting user magnets beyond 40 T. These magnets will partly replace current high-field resistive magnets in the future, leading to significantly lower energy consumption and new scientific possibilities.
First Year Of Impact 2016
Sector Education,Electronics,Energy,Environment,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology
Impact Types Cultural,Societal

 
Description Improving the sustainability of the European Magnetic Field Laboratory, ISABEL
Amount € 4,900,000 (EUR)
Organisation European Commission 
Sector Public
Country European Union (EU)
Start 11/2020 
End 10/2024
 
Description Improving the sustainability of the European Magnetic Field Laboratory 
Organisation European Magnetic Field Laboratory
Country Belgium 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Prof. Amalia Patanè has joined 18 European partners in the European Union award ISABEL "Improving the sustainability of the European Magnetic Field Laboratory". High magnetic fields are one of the most powerful tools available to scientists for the study, modification and control of states of matter. The European Magnetic Field Laboratory (EMFL) represents all high-field infrastructures in Europe and constitutes a distributed research infrastructure of global impact and importance. Within ISABEL, Nottingham will contribute to strengthen the role of high magnetic field research in Europe and the UK membership of the EMFL on behalf of the EPSRC (https://gow.epsrc.ukri.org/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=NS/A000060/1).
Collaborator Contribution High magnetic fields are one of the most powerful tools available to scientists for the study, modification and control of states of matter. The European Magnetic Field Laboratory (EMFL) represents all high-field infrastructures in Europe and constitutes a distributed research infrastructure of global impact and importance.
Impact Physics, Chemistry, Biophysics and Engineering
Start Year 2020
 
Description EMFL_ outreach and training activities 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact The EMFL has several communication media to reach a broad audience, including a webpage, newsletters, brochures, flyers, an annual report and banners.
1. EMFLNews https://emfl.eu/emfl-news/ EMFL publishes a quarterly newsletter EMFLNews, with the latest developments and scientific highlights. It is circulated both internally and externally to inform the public and the user community. Since the UK community has joined the EMFL, the EPSRC logo also appears on EMFLNews.
2. Flyers, brochures and annual report The flyers serve to attract and inform new user groups. The brochures and the annual report are aimed more at the policy makers and the general public.
3. Other publications in magazines about high magnetic field research for doers and lovers of science, see for example N.E. Hussey (University of Bristol), The Allure of Linearity, in Fields Science, Discovery & Magnetism 10 September 2019
https://nationalmaglab.org/fieldsmagazine/archives/the-allure-of-linearity
4. Web-sites The website of the EMFL (https://emfl.eu/) is regularly updated to inform the community about the latest developments and news. For information, please visit the website of the EMFL and its videos at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dM07vic150
5. For the EPSRC web-site on national facilities, see:
https://epsrc.ukri.org/research/facilities/access/nationalresearch/emfl/
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021,2022
URL https://emfl.eu/