Magnetic Field Pattern Research Articles

Performance of optically pumped magnetometer magnetoencephalography: validation in large samples and multiple tasks.

Objective
Current commercial magnetoencephalography (MEG) systems detect neuro-magnetic signals using superconducting quantum interferometers devices (SQUIDs), which require liquid helium as cryogen and have many limitations during operation. In contrast, optical pumped magnetometers (OPMs) technology provides a promising alternative to conventional SQUID-MEG. OPMs can operate at room temperature, offering benefits such as flexible deployment and lower costs. However, the validation of OPM-MEG has primarily been conducted on small sample sizes and specific regions of interest in the brain, lacking comprehensive validation for larger sample sizes and assessment of whole-brain. 
Approach
We recruited 100 participants, including healthy and neurological disorders individuals. Whole-brain OPM-MEG and SQUID-MEG data were recorded sequentially during auditory (n = 50) and visual (n = 50) stimulation experiments. By comparing the task-evoked responses of the two systems, we aimed to validate the performance of the next-generation OPM-MEG. 
Main results
The results showed that OPM-MEG enhanced the amplitude of task-related responses and exhibited similar magnetic field patterns and neural oscillatory activity as SQUID-MEG. There was no difference in the task-related latencies measured by the two systems. The signal-to-noise ratio was lower for the OPM-MEG in the auditory experiment, but did not differ in the visual experiment, suggesting that the results may be task-dependent. 
Significance
These results demonstrate that OPM-MEG, as an alternative to traditional SQUID-MEG, shows superior response amplitude and comparable performance in capturing brain dynamics. This study provides evidence for the effectiveness of OPM-MEG as a next-generation neuroimaging technique.

Advances in Brain-Computer Interface Technology for Depression Diagnosis: A Focus on EEG, MEG, and fNIRS

Abstract. With the acceleration of the pace of modern social life, the psychological pressure on individuals has also increased. Consequently, a series of problems brought about by depression are increasingly recognized, such as its impact on mental health, social functioning, and overall quality of life, and the demand for accurate depression diagnosis has gradually increased. This has led to the exploration of innovative Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)-based diagnostic methods that leverage brain-machine interface technology. The application of related technologies for depression diagnosis is introduced from the aspects of Electroencephalography (EEG), Magnetoencephalography (MEG), and Near-infrared (NIR) imaging technology. These three technologies represent emerging approaches in depression diagnosis, adopting concepts that differ from traditional diagnostic methods. During the diagnostic process, they rely on electrocardiac and brain magnetic field patterns to provide important information related to brain activity. These methods enable non-invasive monitoring of cerebral blood oxygen levels, which is crucial for understanding the physiological underpinnings of depressive symptoms.

Linear transverse flux generator for wave energy conversion: design optimization and analysis

Abstract The electric power industry impacts each state’s economy significantly, driven by increasing electricity consumption that necessitates expanding power plants and finding alternative energy sources. Among alternative energy sources, ocean and sea wave energy converters can be distinguished as a separate class. Wave energy converters transform wave energy into mechanical and then electrical energy. The purpose of the study is to analyze and optimize the magnetic system of a transverse flux machine (TFM) linear generator and to determine the influence of the distance between the stator cores on the efficiency of the generator. This research included conducting 3D modeling and analysis to identify this rational distance. The methods for investigating the magnetic system and calculating the magnetic field pattern are divided into analytical and numerical. Thanks to advanced software for solving such tasks, numerical calculation methods based on the finite element method play a decisive role. Meanwhile, analytical calculations of the magnetic circuit are performed using Kirchhoff’s second law for preliminary analysis. The article discusses a two-phase linear TFM generator with a U-shaped core and permanent magnets. The results of numerical modeling show that the distance between the stator cores should have a specific size and requires detailed selection when designing the magnetic system in each particular case. In the design studied, it was calculated that 6 mm between the stator cores increases the machine’s performance. 3D modeling is necessary for accurate analysis, considering the axial magnetic flux to minimize stray fields and their mutual demagnetization. Future research will explore an E-shaped core TFM design.

Coherent flow structures and magnetic field patterns in rotating spherical shell convective dynamos: A data-driven approach

The Earth's outer core dynamics involve convective fluid motion generating an observable geomagnetic field. The velocity and magnetic fields exhibit characteristic spatiotemporal features possessing geophysical significance for which extensive datasets are available from direct observations and computational simulations. This study demonstrates the robustness of proper orthogonal decomposition (POD), a data-driven technique, in detecting prominent and relevant features in these datasets. Improvising on previous practices, the POD efficiently detects infinitesimal instabilities at the onset of convection, providing an accurate and objective methodology to determine the convective threshold, even for heterogeneous buoyancy forcing. Time evolution of paired, phase-shifted modes efficiently reconstructs the azimuthally drifting of traveling wave instabilities. Simultaneously reduced order modeling of velocity components clearly distinguish the equatorial and polar coherent flow structures. Supercritical convection-driven magnetic field data over long periods, generated using numerical simulations, produce dominant modes that are more accurately representative of time-averaged patterns than geocentric axial dipole patterns. Moreover, the quantitative significance of the dominant modes determines the extent of dimensional reduction complementing established diagnostics for dipolarity. Finally, analysis of observational geomagnetic field data reveals long-lived dominant patterns influenced by thermal core–mantle interaction consistent with numerical models employing tomographic heat flux boundary conditions in present as well as previous studies.

Tunable magnonic crystal in a hybrid superconductor–ferrimagnet nanostructure

One of the most intriguing properties of magnonic systems is their reconfigurability, where an external magnetic field alters the static magnetic configuration to influence magnetization dynamics. In this paper, we present an alternative approach to tunable magnonic systems. We studied theoretically and numerically a magnonic crystal induced within a uniform magnetic layer by a periodic magnetic field pattern created by the sequence of superconducting strips. We showed that the spin-wave spectrum can be tuned by the inhomogeneous stray field of the superconductor in response to a small uniform external magnetic field. Additionally, we demonstrated that modifying the width of superconducting strips and separation between them leads to the changes in the internal field which are unprecedented in conventional magnonic structures. The paper presents the results of semi-analytical calculations for realistic structures, which are verified by finite-element method computations.

Electromagnetic radiation in a pathologically unirefringent biaxial medium

Electric field and magnetic field phasors are expanded into recently found vector spherical wave functions of a biaxial medium quantified by two anisotropy parameters. The medium is termed biaxial when the two anisotropy parameters are unequal, uniaxial when they are equal, and isotropic when both are unity. Such an expansion has been adopted previously to represent the field phasors inside a scatterer made of the chosen medium, but suspended in free space. In this paper, it is used in computing radiation of electric and magnetic current sources immersed in the chosen medium. The computed fields are valid everywhere, including near-zone and far-zone regions. Duality relations are derived between elementary sources in the chosen medium: point-electric-dipole source and point-magnetic-dipole source. Numerical results on isotropic, uniaxial, and biaxial cases for elementary sources show the evolution of electric field, magnetic field, and directivity pattern in relation to the anisotropy of the medium. In essence, beam shaping including stretching and compression along certain directions is possible upon orienting the dipole's axis with respect to a distinguished axis when the medium is uniaxial, or on varying both anisotropy parameters when the medium is biaxial. As an example for a nonelementary source, line-electric-dipole radiation is considered. With the dipole axis being fixed, steering the main lobes toward the dipole axis, as well as increasing/ decreasing the maximum directivity and beamwidth of main and side lobes is possible by the same aforementioned procedure applied for elementary sources.

Full-Wave Simulation of a Helmholtz Radiofrequency Coil for Magnetic Resonance Applications

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive diagnostic technique able to provide information about the anatomical, structural, and functional properties of different organs. A magnetic resonance (MR) scanner employs radiofrequency (RF) coils to generate a magnetic field to excite the nuclei in the sample (transmit coil) and pick up the signals emitted by the nuclei (receive coil). To avoid trial-and-error approaches and optimize the RF coil performance for a given application, accurate design and simulation processes must be performed. We describe the full-wave simulation of a Helmholtz coil for high-field MRI performed with the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, investigating magnetic field pattern differences between loaded and unloaded conditions. Moreover, the self-inductance of the single loops constituting the Helmholtz coil was estimated, as well as the frequency splitting between loops due to inductive coupling and the sample-induced resistance. The result accuracy was verified with data acquired with a Helmholtz prototype for small phantom experiments with a 3T MR clinical scanner. Finally, the magnetic field variations and coil detuning after the insertion of the RF shield were evaluated.

Evidence of the inverse proximity effect in tunnel magnetic josephson junctions

Magnetic Josephson junctions (MJJs) are a special class of hybrid systems where antagonistic correlations coexist, thus providing a key for advances in weak superconductivity, superconducting spintronics, and quantum computation. So far, the memory properties of MJJs have been mostly investigated in view of digital electronics and for spintronic devices at liquid-helium temperature. At the operating temperature of quantum circuits, a magnetic order can rise in a superconductor (S) at the S/ferromagnet (F) interface, i.e., the inverse proximity effect (IPE), thus leading to a significant modification of the magnetic field patterns in MJJs. In this work, we have carried out a comparative investigation of the magnetic behavior of tunnel MJJs with a strong ferromagnetic layer inserted in the layout of both Nb and Al JJs, respectively. The comparative analysis validates the crucial role of the temperature, the fundamental scaling energies of S/F coupling systems, and the transparency of the S/F interface. This investigation points out that the IPE is a key aspect to consider when designing tunnel MJJs operating well below 4 K and thus in the perspective of hybrid superconducting quantum architectures.

Internal magnetic field structures observed by PSP/WISPR in a filament-related coronal mass ejection

Context. We investigated the coronal mass ejection (CME) related to an eruptive filament over the southwestern solar limb on December 8, 2022, at around 8 UT. We tracked localized density enhancements reflecting the magnetic structures using white-light data taken with the Wide-field Instrument for Solar PRobe (WISPR) aboard the Parker Solar Probe (PSP). Aims. We aim to investigate the 3D location, morphology and evolution of the internal magnetic fine structures of CMEs. Specifically, we focused on the physical origin of the features in the WISPR images, how the white-light structures evolve over time, and their relationship with the source region, filament, and the flux rope. Methods. The fast tangential motion of the PSP spacecraft during its perihelion permits a single event to be viewed from multiple angles in short times relative to the event’s evolution. Hence, three-dimensional information of selected CME features can be derived from this single spacecraft using triangulation techniques. Results. We grouped small-scale structures with roughly similar speeds, longitude, and latitude into three distinct morphological groups. We found twisted magnetic field patterns close to the eastern leg of the CME that may be related to “horns” outlining the edges of the flux-rope cavity. We identified aligned thread-like bundles close to the western leg, and they may be related to confined density enhancements evolving during the filament eruption. High density blob-like features (magnetic islands) are widely spread in longitude (∼40°) close to the flanks and the rear part of the CME. We also note that the large-scale outer envelope of the CME, seen clearly from 1 AU, was not well observed by PSP. Conclusions. We demonstrate that CME flux ropes, apart from the blobs, may comprise different morphological groups with a cluster behavior; the blobs instead span a wide range of longitudes. This finding may hint at either the three-dimensionality of the post-CME current sheet (CS) or the influence of the ambient corona in the evolutionary behavior of the CS. Importantly, we show that the global appearance of the CME can be very different in WISPR (0.11–0.16 AU) and the instruments near 1 AU because of the shorter line-of-sight integration of WISPR.

Investigation of the influence of the number of poles on the external characteristic of a brushless DC machine in the generator mode

The article presents the results of a study on the generator mode of operation of a brushless DC machine (BLDC) when operating under active load. For analysis, two models were created with the number of permanent magnets on the rotor differing by a factor of two. The relevance of the research is due to the wide range of applications of BLDC in various fields. One of the key advantages of BLDC is the absence of a brush-commutator unit, which is replaced by a controller with semiconductor elements. This increases the reliability of BLDC and expands the range of operating modes. The main objective of this study is to determine the impact of the number of permanent magnets on the external characteristic of BLDC in generator mode. To achieve this goal, computer modeling was performed using ANSYS Maxwell software. This software is designed to study and calculate the magnetic field pattern using the finite element method in electromechanical devices, providing accurate results for analysis. For each BLDC model, the degree of saturation of the magnetic system elements was determined, and graphs of voltage, current, and braking torque at the generator shaft over time were obtained. Analysis of the calculation results for BLDC models with 46 and 92 permanent magnets demonstrated an impact on the voltage and current waveforms, leading to some slight distortion of their shape. The obtained calculation results allowed determining the efficiency and constructing the external characteristic for both BLDC models. Higher efficiency was obtained for the BLDC model with 92 permanent magnets on the rotor. The external characteristic for the generator mode of BLDC operation demonstrated a change in voltage when transitioning from idle to nominal current operation within the range of 15% and 21%, indicating the stiffness of the characteristic. The conclusions of the study indicate the potential for improving the efficiency of BLDC through optimization of the magnetic system design and cooling conditions, and can be useful for engineers and developers of electromechanical systems aiming to improve the performance of their products.

Single-Track Magnetic Tape Absolute Position Sensor with Self-Adaptivity.

In this study, we demonstrate a single-track magnetic code tape-based absolute position sensor system. Unlike traditional dual-track systems, our method simplifies manufacturing and avoids crosstalk between tracks, offering higher tolerance to alignment errors. The sensing system employs an array of magnetic field sensing elements that recognize the bit sequence encoded on the tape. This approach allows for accurate position determination even when the number of sensing elements is fewer than the number of bits covered, and without the need for specific spacing between sensing elements and bit length. We demonstrate the system's ability to learn and adapt to various magnetic code patterns, including those that are irregular or have been altered. Our method can identify and localize the sensed magnetic field pattern directly within a self-learned magnetic field map, providing robust performance in diverse conditions. This self-adaptive capability enhances operational safety and reliability, as the system can continue functioning even when the magnetic tape is misaligned or has undergone changes.

Hourglass Magnetic Field of a Protostellar System

An hourglass-shaped magnetic field pattern arises naturally from the gravitational collapse of a star-forming gas cloud. Most studies have focused on the prestellar collapse phase, when the structure has a smooth and monotonic radial profile. However, most observations target dense clouds that already contain a central protostar, and possibly a circumstellar disk. We utilize an analytic treatment of the magnetic field along with insights gained from simulations to develop a more realistic magnetic field model for the protostellar phase. Key elements of the model are a strong radial magnetic field in the region of rapid collapse, an off-center peak in the magnetic field strength (a consequence of magnetic field dissipation in the circumstellar disk), and a strong toroidal field that is generated in the region of rapid collapse and outflow generation. A model with a highly pinched and twisted magnetic field pattern in the inner collapse zone facilitates the interpretation of magnetic field patterns observed in protostellar clouds.

Nanoscale spin ordering and spin screening effects in tunnel ferromagnetic Josephson junctions

Magnetic Josephson junctions (MJJs) have emerged as a prominent playground to explore the interplay between superconductivity and ferromagnetism. A series of fascinating experiments have revealed striking phenomena at the superconductor/ferromagnet (S/F) interface, pointing to tunable phase transitions and to the generation of unconventional spin-triplet correlations. Here, we show that the Josephson effect, being sensitive to phase space variation on the nanoscale, allows a direct observation of the spin polarization of the S/F interface. By measuring the temperature dependence of the Josephson magnetic field patterns of tunnel MJJs with strong and thin F-layer, we demonstrate an induced nanoscale spin order in S along the superconducting coherence length at S/F interface, i.e., the inverse proximity effect, with the first evidence of full spin screening at very low temperatures, as expected by the theory. A comprehensive phase diagram for spin nanoscale ordering regimes at S/F interfaces in MJJs has been derived in terms of the magnetic moment induced in the S-layer. Our findings contribute to drive the design and the tailoring of S/F interfaces also in view of potential applications in quantum computing.

Digital Miniature Cathode Ray Magnetometer

In this study, we introduce the concept and construction of an innovative Digital Miniature Cathode Ray Magnetometer designed for the precise detection of magnetic fields. This device addresses several limitations inherent to magnetic probes such as D.C. offset, nonlinearity, temperature drift, sensor aging, and the need for frequent recalibration, while capable of operating in a wide range of magnetic fields. The core principle of this device involves the utilization of a charged particle beam as the sensitivity medium. The system leverages the interaction of an electron beam with a scintillator material, which then emits visible light that is captured by an imager. The emitted scintillation light is captured by a CMOS sensor. This sensor not only records the scintillation light but also accurately determines the position of the electron beam, providing invaluable spatial information crucial for magnetic field mapping. The key innovation lies in the combination of electron beam projection, CMOS imager scintillation-based detection, and digital image signal processing. By employing this synergy, the magnetometer achieves remarkable accuracy, sensitivity and dynamic range. The precise position registration enabled by the CMOS sensor further enhances the device’s utility in capturing complex magnetic field patterns, allowing for 2D field mapping. In this work, the optimization of the probe’s performance is tailored for applications related to the characterization of insertion devices in light sources, including undulators.

Soft Millirobot Capable of Switching Motion Modes on the Fly for Targeted Drug Delivery in the Oviduct.

Small-scale magnetic robots with fixed magnetizations have limited locomotion modes, restricting their applications in complex environments in vivo. Here we present a morphology-reconfigurable millirobot that can switch the locomotion modes locally by reprogramming its magnetizations during navigation, in response to distinct magnetic field patterns. By continuously switching its locomotion modes between the high-velocity rigid motion and high-adaptability soft actuation, the millirobot efficiently navigates in small lumens with intricate internal structures and complex surface topographies. As demonstrations, the millirobot performs multimodal locomotion including woodlouse-like rolling and flipping, sperm-like rotating, and snake-like gliding to negotiate different terrains, including the unrestricted channel and high platform, narrow channel, and solid-liquid interface, respectively. Finally, we demonstrate the drug delivery capability of the millirobot through the oviduct-mimicking phantom and ex vivo oviduct. The magnetization reprogramming strategy during navigation represents a promising approach for developing self-adaptive robots for performing complex tasks in vivo.

A wide angle broadband solar absorber with a horizontal multi-cylinder structure based on an MXene material.

An MXene material absorbs visible and IR light which makes a MXene-based solar absorber an ideal absorber. Here, we propose a high-absorption broadband absorber based on an array of MXene composite cylinder ring structures. The structure designed in this article fully utilizes the MXene material's large surface area to volume ratio, and in the wavelength range of 300-5000 nm, the average absorption efficiency is as high as 98.44%, and the energy absorption rate in the AM 1.5 solar radiation spectrum is 98.76%. The absorption characteristics of the absorber are analyzed by using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The electric and magnetic field patterns indicate that the high absorption performance is attributed to the coupling effect of surface plasmon resonance and gap surface plasmon resonance. Furthermore, the absorber exhibits insensitivity to the polarization angle and demonstrates high absorption efficiency even at large incidence angles. Within a certain manufacturing tolerance range, the absorber can still maintain its broadband absorption characteristics. The absorber also shows a high thermal emissivity of 98.5% when the temperature is 1750 K. The findings offer a theoretical foundation for the development of absorption metamaterials for solar energy harvesting elements.

Light-induced shift current vortex crystals in moiré heterobilayers.

Transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) moiré superlattices provide an emerging platform to explore various light-induced phenomena. Recently, the discoveries of novel moiré excitons have attracted great interest. The nonlinear optical responses of these systems are however still underexplored. Here, we report investigation of light-induced shift currents (a second-order response generating DC current from optical illumination) in the WSe2/WS2 moiré superlattice. We identify a striking phenomenon of the formation of shift current vortex crystals-i.e., two-dimensional periodic arrays of moiré-scale current vortices and associated magnetic fields with remarkable intensity under laboratory laser setup. Furthermore, we demonstrate high optical tunability of these current vortices-their location, shape, chirality, and magnitude can be tuned by the frequency, polarization, and intensity of the incident light. Electron-hole interactions (excitonic effects) are found to play a crucial role in the generation and nature of the shift current intensity and distribution. Our findings provide a promising all-optical control route to manipulate nanoscale shift current density distributions and magnetic field patterns, as well as shed light on nonlinear optical responses in moiré quantum matter and their possible applications.

Unilateral RF sensors based on parallel-plate architecture for improved surface-scan MRI analysis of commercial pouch cells

Rapid expansion of the Li-ion pouch cell market is driven by the looming problem of permanent depletion of natural gas reservoirs and by the growing demand for high-performance portable devices and electric vehicles. Safety and performance of Li-ion cells have been two main focal points of the extensive battery research. Surface-scan Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an operando method designed for the accurate detection of substandard battery cells and for monitoring electrochemical processes with high spatial and temporal resolutions. Intercalation-dependent magnetism and charge transfer processes in the cell's electrodes give rise to characteristic magnetic field patterns outside the cell. For accurate mapping of such patterns, we proposed the concept of a unilateral radio-frequency (RF) sensor, a flat thin resonator encapsulating a proton-rich solid-state detection medium. When the pouch cell is placed in direct contact with the sensor, the magnetic field patterns propagate inside the detection medium, and the corresponding spatial distribution of Larmor precession frequencies can be detected with MRI. In this work, we developed and evaluated a series of RF sensor configurations based on parallel-plate architecture enhanced by arrays of distributed capacitors. The parallel-plate approach does not suffer from RF interference with pouch cells and provides excellent sensitivity and B1-field homogeneity. The optimal configuration of the parallel-plate sensor depends on the dimensions of the pouch cell and the distribution of parallel capacitors. This article includes the results of experimental tests, RF-field simulations, and strategies to further improve the surface-scan MRI method.

A Spatially Resolved X-Ray Polarization Map of the Vela Pulsar Wind Nebula

In this paper, we present a full spatially resolved polarization map for the Vela pulsar wind nebula (PWN) observed by IXPE. By employing effective background discrimination techniques, our results show a remarkably high degree of local polarization in the outskirt region, exceeding 60% (55%) with a probability of 95% (99%), which approaches the upper limit predicted by the synchrotron emission mechanism. The high degree of polarization suggests that the turbulent magnetic energy is at most 33% of the ordered one. In addition, the X-ray polarization map exhibits a toroidal magnetic field pattern that is consistent with the field revealed by radio observations across the entire nebula. This consistency reveals that the observed X-ray and radio emissions are radiated by electrons from the same magnetic field. Different from the Crab PWN, the consistency observed in the Vela PWN may be attributed to the interaction between the reverse shock of the supernova blast wave and the PWN, which leads to a displacement between the synchrotron-cooled nebula and the fresh nebula close to the pulsar. These findings deepen our understanding of the structure and evolution of the Vela PWN and the magnetohydrodynamic interaction in PWNe.

Quantum diamond microscope for dynamic imaging of magnetic fields

Wide-field imaging of magnetic signals using ensembles of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond has garnered increasing interest due to its combination of micron-scale resolution, millimeter-scale field of view, and compatibility with diverse samples from across the physical and life sciences. Recently, wide-field NV magnetic imaging based on the Ramsey protocol has achieved uniform and enhanced sensitivity compared to conventional measurements. Here, we integrate the Ramsey-based protocol with spin-bath driving to extend the NV spin dephasing time and improve magnetic sensitivity. We also employ a high-speed camera to enable dynamic wide-field magnetic imaging. We benchmark the utility of this quantum diamond microscope (QDM) by imaging magnetic fields produced from a fabricated wire phantom. Over a 270 × 270 μm2 field of view, a median per-pixel magnetic sensitivity of 4.1(1) nT /Hz is realized with a spatial resolution ≲ 10 μm and sub-millisecond temporal resolution. Importantly, the spatial magnetic noise floor can be reduced to the picotesla scale by time-averaging and signal modulation, which enables imaging of a magnetic-field pattern with a peak-to-peak amplitude difference of about 300 pT. Finally, we discuss potential new applications of this dynamic QDM in studying biomineralization and electrically active cells.