National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. It is a federally funded facility dedicated to operating the world's most powerful magnets for scientific research. Established in 1990, it is jointly operated by Florida State University, the University of Florida, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. The laboratory's unique instruments enable pioneering studies across condensed matter physics, chemistry, biology, and materials science, attracting thousands of researchers from around the globe.

History

The origins trace to a 1989 competition by the National Science Foundation to create a centralized national magnet lab, building upon earlier facilities like the Francis Bitter National Magnet Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A consortium led by Florida State University, which already housed the FSU Magnet Lab, won the award. The official dedication occurred in 1994, with key early leadership from physicists like Jack Crow. Over decades, it has expanded its sites and repeatedly broken world records for magnetic field strength, solidifying its status as an international user facility under the stewardship of agencies like the United States Department of Energy.

Facilities and magnets

The laboratory operates across three primary sites: its headquarters at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, a branch at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, and the Los Alamos National Laboratory campus in New Mexico. Its crown jewels include a suite of resistive, hybrid, and superconducting magnets. The flagship is the 45 tesla hybrid magnet, which combines a superconducting outer magnet with a resistive insert. Other notable instruments include the Series Connected Hybrid magnet and the 900 MHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance system. The DC Field facility and the Pulsed Field facility at Los Alamos provide extreme conditions for diverse experiments.

Research programs

Research is organized into interdisciplinary divisions focusing on high magnetic field science. The Condensed Matter Physics program investigates phenomena like quantum magnetism, superconductivity, and topological insulators. The Chemistry and Biochemistry division utilizes high-field NMR spectroscopy and FT-ICR mass spectrometry to study molecular structure and dynamics. The Biological Science program explores protein folding and biomolecular interactions. Furthermore, the Materials Science initiative develops new superconductors and functional materials, often in collaboration with institutions like the Argonne National Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Scientific achievements

The laboratory has been the site of numerous groundbreaking discoveries. Its magnets were instrumental in the study of high-temperature superconductors, leading to insights into the pseudogap phase. Researchers there achieved the first direct observation of the quantum Hall effect in graphene. Work on fractional quantum Hall effect states has advanced the understanding of topological order. In chemistry, the lab's FT-ICR MS technology has enabled unprecedented precision in petroleomics and metabolomics. These contributions have been recognized by awards like the Oliver E. Buckley Condensed Matter Prize and the ACS Award in Analytical Chemistry.

Collaborations and funding

As a national user facility, it fosters extensive partnerships with academia, industry, and government laboratories. It is a member of the International Laboratory of High Magnetic Fields and Low Temperatures. Primary funding comes from the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Energy, with additional support from the State of Florida and the National Institutes of Health. The lab collaborates closely with entities like the Max Planck Institute, the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science, and corporations such as Bruker Corporation and General Electric to develop next-generation magnet technology and facilitate global research access.

Category:Research institutes in the United States Category:Florida State University Category:National Science Foundation