MadSci Network: Physics
Query:

Re: Will applying high voltage to a permanent magnet change the strength?

Date: Fri Oct 8 12:24:22 2004
Posted By: Aaron J. Redd, Post-doc/Fellow, Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion, University of Washington
Area of science: Physics
ID: 1095920024.Ph
Message:

Hello Sam,

I must confess that I haven't seen any anecdotes along the lines of what
you describe -- one question that comes to mind is, did these experiments
involve just the application of strong electric fields (high voltage), or
were there large currents flowing between the electrodes?

In the case of large currents, then I can quite easily believe that
dramatic effects could be produced in a permanent magnet by creating a
large current-driven magnetic field nearby.  The exact effects, of course,
would depend strongly upon the detailed properties of the magnetic
material, the field strengths for the permanent magnet and the external
current, and (perhaps) even the history of the magnetic material.  Such
work is, unfortunately, completely outside the scope of the work I do, and
so the best I could do for you would be to refer you to another researcher
or group.  Perhaps you could contact the Francis Bitter Magnetics
Laboratory at MIT
(at http://web.mit.edu/fbml/cmr/ At 
best, they could describe examples of
materials with these properties, and the studies that clearly show off
those properties; at worst, they should be able to point you to someone who
can give you the information you seek.

If the materials you describe had their magnetic properties changed simply
by the presence of a large electric field, then this is most definitely
outside my field of work and study.  If I didn't know any better, I would
have said that what you describe is impossible -- that is, why would the
presence of an electric field change the magnetic properties?  But, in the
wonderful and wacky world of nonlinear interactions between fields and
materials, nearly anything becomes plausible, though everything depends on
the detailed properties of the materials used in the study.  Once again, I
think the best resource might be the folks at the Bitter Laboratory at MIT
(the URL is up above), who might either be studying the materials you've
read about, or would likely know the people who are.

Good luck!

Aaron J. Redd




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