The strongest magnetic fields in the universe may be on Earth, according to research

One of the cosmic objects that produce magnetic fields of impressive strength is known as a magnetar, a neutron star with magnetism reaching densities of trillions of gauss; Gauss is the unit of measurement of the magnetic field. But, A new study claims that Earth may have small regions that can bypass the magnetic fields of magnetars.

After analyzing data collected in experiments at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, scientists detected magnetic fields that represent a record for the production of this type of energy. A paper on the subject was published in the scientific journal Physical Review X.

In other words, HEResearchers were able to find traces of these strong magnetic fields by examining particles released during heavy ion collisions at RHIC.

It is important to explain that the discovery of these magnetic fields occurred not in a specific location on our planet, but during laboratory experiments carried out by RHIC scientists.

“These fast-moving positive charges should generate a very strong magnetic field estimated at 1018 gauss. This is probably the strongest magnetic field in our Universe,” said study author and physicist Gang Wang of the Solenoidal Tracker in the RHIC (STAR) collaboration.

magnetic fields

Quarks and gluons were released during the collisions, helping scientists better understand the forces acting on atoms. The paper suggests that from these data, researchers may also be able to understand a new way to study the electrical conductivity known as “quark-gluon plasma” (QGP), one of the building blocks of the atomic nucleus.

After experiments in the collider, scientists detected a magnetic field of approximately 1018 gauss; This number is a large number compared to the 1014 gauss field formed by neutron stars — these cosmic bodies are considered the densest bodies in the universe. However, it is not that easy to observe the field created during the experiment because it dissipates in less than a second.

“We wanted to see whether the charged particles produced in off-center heavy ion collisions were deflected in a way that could only be explained by the presence of an electromagnetic field in the small QGP particles created in these collisions. In the end, we see a charge-dependent deflection pattern that can only be triggered by an electromagnetic field in the QGP.” It is a clear sign of Faraday induction,” said Brookhaven Laboratory physicist and STAR member Aihong Tang.

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