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Mini but mighty magnet enables advanced spectroscopy
Scientists at Rice University, Houston, pio-
neered a tabletop magnetic pulse generator that
reportedly does the work of a room-sized ma-
chine. RAMBO (Rice advanced magnet with
broadband optics) allows researchers to run
spectroscopy-based experiments on materials in
pulsed magnetic fields up to 30 tesla. RAMBO
was created in collaboration with Hiroyuki Nojiri
at the Institute for Materials Research at Tohoku
University, Sendai, Japan, and has windows that
allow researchers to directly send a laser beam to
the sample and collect data at close range.
“We can literally see the sample inside the
magnet,” explains physicist Junichiro Kono. “We
have direct optical access, whereas if you go to
a national high magnetic field facility, you have a monster magnet, and you can only access
the sample through a very long optical fiber. You cannot do any nonlinear or ultrafast op-
tical spectroscopy. RAMBO finally gives us the ability to combine ultrastrong magnetic
fields and very short and intense optical pulses.”
RAMBO’s unique configuration reportedly allows for the best access in a powerful
magnetic field generator meant for scientific experimentation. Researchers can collect real-
time, high-resolution data in a system that couples high magnetic fields and low tempera-
tures with direct optical access to the magnet’s core, says Kono. In addition, the unit can
run a new experiment in a 30-tesla field every 10 minutes (or less for smaller peak fields),
as opposed to waiting the hours often required for field generators to cool down after each
experiment at large laboratories. For more information: Junichiro Kono, 713/348-2209,
, .
Canadian 3D microscope explores defect formation
A new 3D x-ray computed tomography (CT) microscope at the University of British
Columbia’s Okanagan campus lets researchers see inside the internal structure of materi-
als and explore 3D images magnified 1000 times. According to assistant engineering pro-
fessor André Phillion, this is the first step towards lighter and stronger materials that can
be used in aerospace, energy, and manufacturing. The microscope is B.C.’s first high-reso-
lution CT scanner, and one of only five in Canada. For those in manufacturing, this opens
the window to determine how defects form and how they can lead to failure, says Phillion,
who cites the basic aluminum alloy automobile wheel as an example.
The research is expected to not only improve manufacturing processes, like the cast-
ing of aluminum alloys for wheels, but also enhance performance and extend component
lifetimes. “We are currently looking at a wide range of materials—metals, composites,
paper-based products—and trying to decipher images that are
enormously complex,” says Phillion. “The end goal is to make
products that are lighter and have fewer defects, and to also
find new uses for traditional materials.” For more information:
André Phillion, 250/807-9403, ,
.
Testing liquid cells boosts battery research
Chongmin Wang of Pacific Northwest National Labora-
tory (PNNL), Richland, Wash., and colleagues used transmis-
sion electron microscopes (TEMs) to watch how the ebb and
flow of positively charged ions deforms electrodes in batter-
ies. Recent work funded through the DOE’s Joint Center for
briefs
Crane Engineering, Plymouth,
Minn., acquired Safety
Engineering Associates,
Madison, Wis., a vehicle testing
and accident reconstruction
services provider. Safety
Engineering clients will now have
access to Crane’s chemical,
materials, metallurgical, and
micro-imaging laboratories,
including its in-house 3D laser
scanner and computed
tomography resources.
,
.
MTS Systems Corp., Eden Prairie,
Minn., held a grand opening of its
vehicle system engineering
laboratory in collaboration with
Chery Automobile Co. Ltd. in
Wuhu, China. The Chery-MTS lab is
a center for system and full-vehicle
testing applications, as well as
development of new testing
technologies. Chery is the leading
domestic automotive manufacturer
and car exporter in China.
.
M+P Labs, Schenectady, N.Y. and
Greenville, S.C., changed its name
to Lucideon effective February 1.
M+P works predominantly in the
energy, aerospace, and healthcare
sectors. The Lucideon group
includes UK-based materials
technology company Ceram, and
international sustainability,
verification, and certification
specialist CICS (Complete
Integrated Certification Services
Ltd.). .
ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES • FEBRUARY 2014 8
TESTING CHARACTERIZATION
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industry
A palm-sized coil is the heart of RAMBO,
a Rice-built tabletop system to expose
experiments to high magnetic fields.
Courtesy of Jeff Fitlow/Rice University.
André Phillion
demonstrates the
small sample size to
be imaged by UBC’s
new 3D x-ray CT
microscope.