Is a 1-2T electromagnet smaller than 2 cm by 1 cm possible?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of creating a small electromagnet capable of producing a magnetic field strength of 1-2 Tesla, specifically within dimensions no larger than 2 cm by 1 cm, without the use of superconductors. Participants explore the challenges associated with size and magnetic field strength, referencing existing technologies and materials.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the commercial availability of a small electromagnet producing 1-2T, expressing doubt about its feasibility given the size constraints.
  • Another participant cites MRI magnets, which operate between 1 and 3 Tesla but are significantly larger, suggesting that the energy and mass required for such field strengths make the proposed size unreasonable.
  • A third participant asserts that while a rare-earth permanent magnet of the specified size could produce about 1T at the pole face, the field strength would diminish quickly with distance.
  • A later reply expresses skepticism about the possibility of achieving the desired field strength with small neodymium magnets, noting that while some may exceed 1T in circuit, they typically exhibit lower practical field strengths.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that achieving a 1-2T electromagnet within the specified dimensions is highly unlikely, but there is some discussion about the potential of rare-earth permanent magnets, indicating a lack of consensus on the effectiveness of stacking them to increase field strength.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the limitations of existing technologies, such as the size and energy requirements of superconducting magnets, and the rapid fall-off of magnetic field strength with distance for permanent magnets. There are unresolved questions regarding the practical strength of small neodymium magnets.

Beer-monster
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Does anyone know if its commericially possible to get a 1-2T electromagnet (no superconductors) but one that's very small i.e. no wider than 2 cm and no taller than 1 cm (with the field in z)?

It seems doubtful but I'm not sure where to look, google isn't helping much.
 
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Hi beer. I'm pretty much a dummy when it comes to magnetic fields, but what I do know is that MRI magnets run between 1 and 3 Tesla. The coils are about 3 feet in diameter and about 4 feet long, consisting of superconducting windings such that the thickness of all these windings is on the order of 2 to 6 inches. They then run a few hundreds of amps through these windings which are immersed in liquid helium to make them superconducting. That's a lot of mass and energy to produce 1 to 3 T, so to suggest you might get 1 or 2 T out of something as small as you're suggesting seems totally unreasonable.
 
No chance. A rare-earth permanent magnet of that size, however, would have about 1T right at the pole face. The field would fall off rapidly with distance.
 
Yeah I guessed it would be impossible, just needed to know for sure.

I looked into Nd magnets, but the small ones I found were over 1T but only in circuit. In practise they were more like 0.2 T. Don't suppose anyone knows of ones stronger?

I doubt piling them on top of each other would work? ^_-
 

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