Bar magnet with iron filings showing magnetic field pattern. Researchers have designed what they believe to be a new type of magnetic cloak, which shields objects from external magnetic fields while at the same time preventing any magnetic internal fields from leaking outside.
Science Daily — Spanish researchers have designed what they believe to be a new type of magnetic cloak, which shields objects from external magnetic fields while at the same time preventing any magnetic internal fields from leaking outside, making the cloak undetectable.
In their study, published Sept. 23, in the Institute of Physics and German Physical Society's New Journal of Physics, researchers have proved that such a cloak could be built using practical and available materials and technologies to develop an array of applications.
The development of such a device, described as an 'antimagnet', could offer many beneficial applications, such as protecting a ship's hull from mines designed to detonate when a magnetic field is detected or allowing patients with pacemakers or cochlear implants to use medical equipment.
Take, for example, a patient with a pacemaker undergoing an MRI scan. If an MRI's enormous magnetic field interacts with the pacemaker, it can cause severe damage to both the device and the patient. The metal in the pacemaker could also interact with and distort the MRI's enormous magnetic field, affecting the machine's detection capabilities.
The researchers, from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, are aware that the technology could also be used by criminals to dodge security systems, for example in airports and shops. Still, they are confident that the new research could positively benefit society. At the same time, the risks could be minimised by informing security officials about potential devices, enabling them to anticipate and neutralise problems.
Lead author Professor Alvar Sanchez said, "The ideas of this device and their potential applications are far-reaching; however, it is conceivable that they could be used to reduce the magnetic signature of forbidden objects, with the consequent threat to security. For these reasons, security officials could take this research into account in order to design safer detection systems and protocols."
The antimagnet has been designed to consist of several layers. The inner layer would consist of a superconducting material that would stop a magnetic field from leaking outside of the cloak, which would be very useful for cloaking certain metals.
A downside to using this material, however, is that it would distort an external magnetic field placed over the cloak, making it detectable, so the device would need to be combined with several outer layers of metamaterials, which have varying levels of magnetic field permeability, to correct this distortion and leave the magnetic field undisturbed.
The researchers demonstrated the feasibility of the cloak using computer simulations of a ten-layered cylindrical device cloaking a single small magnet.
Impressively, the researchers also showed that the cloak could take on other shapes and function when the cylinder was not fully enclosed, meaning that applications for pacemakers and cochlear implants are even more feasible, given that they require wires to connect to other parts of the body.
"We indeed believe, and hope, that some laboratories could start constructing an antimagnet soon. Of the two components, superconductors are readily available, for example in cylindrical shape, and the key point would be to make the magnetic layers with the desired properties. This may take a bit of work but in principle the ingredients are there," continued Professor Sanchez.
An Institute of Physics spokesperson said, "The research group have put forward a novel and, most importantly, conceivable plan for a magnetic cloak. The obvious next step will be to translate design into fabrication so some of the wide-ranging applications can be realised."
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