Within the confines of our planet, researchers speculate the existence of magnetic fields that eclipse those emitted by the most magnetically potent objects in the cosmos, known as magnetars. These neutron stars showcase magnetic fields measuring about 100 trillion gauss. However, it’s possible that Earth-bound laboratories have created magnetic fields that dwarf even these astronomical figures.
An investigation into the collision outcomes at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) based at the US Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory suggests that we may achieve magnetic field magnitudes surpassing the universe’s natural extremes.
After capturing nuclei collisions involving heavy ions, the subsequent dispersion of various particles, including the elementary quarks and gluons, has offered insights into the nature of atomic forces.
“This is the first time the interaction of the magnetic field with the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) was measured,” mentions Diyu Shen, a physicist with the STAR collaboration at DOE.
Quarks, the basic building blocks for protons and neutrons, exist momentarily in tumultuous quantum states, held together by gluon particles. Understanding their fleeting behavior is crucial for comprehending matter’s fundamental structure.
Researchers seek to map quark and antiquark movements using the chiral magnetic effect, but the electromagnetic field in a free quark-gluon state decays too quickly for observation, overshadowed by competing forces.
The generation of a suitable magnetic field was hypothesized to occur during off-center collisions between heavy nuclei.
“These quickly moving positive charges should create an extremely strong magnetic field, estimated at 1018 gauss,” declares STAR physicist Gang Wang.
“This might be the most intense magnetic field in the universe.”
While the magnetars’ magnetic output can persist for millennia, the predicted proton-induced magnetic bursts would vanish in a tiny fraction of a second.
Nonetheless, their existence would influence the behavior of the liberated charged quarks.
Using collisions between gold nuclei, as well as combined collisions of ruthenium and zirconium, researchers could track particle paths that revealed the magnetic field’s influence.
This data allowed them to estimate the electrical conductivity of the quark-gluon plasma.
“The particles’ deflection extent links directly to the electromagnetic field’s strength and the QGP’s conductivity – an unprecedented measurement,” states Shen.
The findings are detailed in an article published in Physical Review X.
FAQs about Magnetic Fields and Magnetars
- What is a magnetar?
A magnetar is a type of neutron star with an extremely powerful magnetic field, which can reach up to 100 trillion gauss. - How do the magnetic fields created on Earth compare to those of magnetars?
Experiments at the RHIC suggest that magnetic fields created during collisions of heavy ions might reach 1018 gauss, which is significantly stronger than those found in magnetars. - Why are magnetic fields in collision experiments on Earth so short-lived?
These magnetic fields are predicted to decay very rapidly due to competing currents and the fleeting nature of the conditions created during ion collisions. - What is the quark-gluon plasma (QGP)?
The QGP is a state of matter thought to have existed shortly after the Big Bang, consisting of free quarks and gluons before they combined to form protons and neutrons. - Why is measuring the conductivity of the QGP important?
Understanding the conductivity of the QGP can provide insights into the properties and behavior of matter under extreme conditions, which is fundamental for the field of quantum physics.
Conclusion
The discovery of potentially the strongest magnetic fields ever conceived, right here on Earth, is a reminder of the tremendous power that lays within the realm of quantum physics and how state-of-the-art facilities like the RHIC enable us to push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe. While these earthly magnetic marvels are ephemeral, their brief existence and the knowledge gleaned from them offer a profound perspective on the complexities of the cosmos and the intricate dance of its most basic particles.