What incredible phenomena could materials unveil when exposed to conditions that replicate the extremes of the universe-such as ultra-low temperatures, magnetic fields hundreds of thousands of times stronger than Earth's, and pressures nearing those at the planet's core?
The Synergetic Extreme Condition User Facility (SECUF), situated in the Huairou District of Beijing, is providing scientists with the opportunity to study the unusual behaviors of matter in these extreme environments.
After construction commenced in September 2017, SECUF recently passed its national acceptance review, marking the completion of an advanced experimental facility that integrates extreme conditions like ultra-low temperatures, ultra-high pressures, strong magnetic fields, and ultra-fast optical fields.
Led by the Institute of Physics (IOP) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the facility features precision-controlled "extreme environment generators," serving as a "super lab" for exploring the frontiers of materials science. Researchers can investigate the mysteries of matter and uncover new phenomena that remain hidden under normal conditions.
SECUF can cool materials to an astonishing 1 millikelvin-1,000 times lower than the cosmic background temperature—and generate a steady magnetic field of 30 Tesla, which is 600,000 times stronger than Earth's magnetic field, according to lead scientist Lv Li.
The facility can also achieve ultra-high pressures of 300 GPa, comparable to the pressure found at the Earth's core, and produce ultra-fast laser pulses lasting just 100 attoseconds, allowing real-time observation of electron dynamics.
Under these extreme conditions, materials often display "magical" properties. For example, superconductivity electrical resistance disappears-only occurs at ultra-low temperatures, and some ordinary materials can become superconductors under high pressure.
With SECUF, researchers anticipate discovering more superconducting materials under high pressure, potentially even room-temperature superconductors, which could greatly enhance computer processing speeds, according to Lv.
Strong magnetic fields and ultrafast light fields enable scientists to probe deeper into the microscopic structures and dynamic behaviors of materials.
At SECUF, various extreme conditions can be combined based on specific research needs, facilitating advanced experiments in material synthesis, quantum control, and ultrafast dynamics. This provides an unprecedented research platform across materials science, physics, and chemistry, as noted by Lv.
The facility's completion has significantly bolstered China's capabilities in both fundamental and applied materials science research. Researchers can now explore unconventional superconductivity, topological states of matter, and novel quantum materials and devices, as indicated by Cheng Jinguang, deputy director of the IOP.
This experimental platform is accessible to scientists globally. To date, 13 universities and research institutions from 10 countries, including Denmark, Germany, France, and Japan, have conducted experiments at SECUF, with some stations already yielding scientific results, Cheng stated.
Scientists plan to further enhance SECUF's capabilities while remaining open to international researchers, aiming to attract more pioneers to tackle this "extreme challenge" and unlock discoveries that could transform our understanding of the material world.
(Source: Xinhua)
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