New Opportunities for Condensed Matter in Pulsed Magnetic Fields
Boris Maiorov, National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA
Monday 29 September 2025, 09.30 AM
ICMAB - Sala d'Actes Carles Miravitlles
Abstract
Magnetic field is one of the principal variables we can change to study condensed matter. Having access and being able to generate strong magnetic fields is also key for a large number of applications such as MRIs, Magleb, rails gun, materials separation as well as to understand proposed new magnetic state of matters like skyrmions or Altermagnetism.
However, accessing repeatedly and non-destructively magnetics fields above 45T requires pulsed magnetic fields, which bring challenges from fast changing magnetic fields, vibration environment, large electrical noise and short amount of time for measurements. These circumstances require developing unique techniques to solve such exceptional challenges. In this talk I will show several examples of techniques and systems where strong magnetic fields are key to access new behavior. This includes, elastic measurements, magnetization, magnetostriction, determination of Fermi surfaces, applied to proposed altermagnets and skyrmion systems.
In particular, the promise of fusion technology stemming from high magnetic fields produced by high temperature superconductors flexible tapes and recent records in all-superconducting magnets reinforce the need to study critical current density (Jc) in magnetic fields above 30T. Achieving Jc measurements in pulsed magnetic fields provides a tool for this. Using Fast Programmable Gate Array electronics, we measured reproducible current–voltage curves (I-V) in different superconductor thin films on single crystals and metal substrates grown by different methods. We show it is possible to measure Jc as a function of field at different orientations in high pinning coated conductors up to 65T. We compare measurements in two of the magnet systems available at Los Alamos Pulsed Field Facility of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and show that we are now able to measure Jc continuously as a function of field (H) in our newly commissioned mid-pulse magnet. We explore extending Jc determination to higher dH/dt and compare the Jc performance of standard samples and those with nanoparticle additions, and irradiated samples that are key to predict the performance and lifespan of compact fusion reactors.
Short bio
Dr. Boris Maiorov is a distinguished scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), with a focus on physics, superconductivity, and elastic constants. His academic journey started in Argentina where he completed his Undergraduate and Doctoral degrees in Physics at the Instituto Balseiro, Bariloche. He has contributed significantly to the field of superconductivity, particularly in enhancing current densities in coated conductors and optimizing pinning landscapes, with unique work on very high fields (up to 75T). Maiorov's studies of the synergetic combination of different types of material defects to improve superconductor performance, and his research on angular-dependent vortex pinning mechanisms has been widely recognized as a tool to identify relevant material defects to further develop. His recent efforts are linked to the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (Pulsed Field Facility at LANL) focus on the study of the propoertied of functional and superconducting materials at ultra high magnetic fields.
Hosted by Joffre Gutiérrez, from the SUMAN group (Materials for Energy Research Line)
>> If you want to meet the speaker, please contact the host at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
