Super-magnet sheds light on semiconductors

Stony Stevenson writes: US researchers have demonstrated a revolutionary magnet design that could literally shed new light on nanoscience and semiconductor research. Developed by engineers at Florida State University's National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, the Split Florida Helix magnet can direct and scatter laser light at a sample down the centre of the magnet and from four ports on the sides. Due to become fully operational in 2010, the device can generate fields above 25 tesla. The highest-field split magnet in the world currently attains 18 tesla.