magnetism in science, business, and everyday life

5
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MAGNETICS, VOL. MAG-20, NO. 5, SEPTEMBER 1984 643 MAGNETISM I N SCIENCE, BUSINESS, AND EVERYDAY L I F E K. J. Schmidt-Tiedemann Philips GmbH Forschungslaboratorium Hamburg Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am very grateful for having been invited to give an address to such an important con- ference as the INTERMAG. Magnetism has proved to be a basic constituent of our world. In my talk, I shall touch upon some o f its manifes- tations in science, in industrial application, and in everyday life. 1. Science of Magnetism The astronomer Fritz Zwicky (1898-1974) was once engaged in a conversation with a funda- mentalist minister regarding the origin of the universe. The minist'er said that the universe began when God said, 'Let there be light'. Zwicky, with a thoughtful expression, replied that he could 'buy' this explanation only if God had said 'Let there be light and a mag- netic field' [I 1. To-day, the act of creation still finds continuous scientific interest because it might have been the only source of magnetic monopoles. Notwithstanding modern physics, the earliest recorded discussion [2] of magnetic monopoles is contained in a letter by Petrus Peregrinus de Maricourt, a french military engineer, which he wrote in 1269 AD from the battlefield during a siege of a rebellious Italian principality. He i n t e n d e d to set forth the principles of a magnetic perpetual motion machine for the benefit of potential inves- tors. This innovation, as we are all aware of, has not yet been realized. Many theoretical speculations and investi- gations have culminated for the moment, at least, in the finding of Polyakov and t'Hooft in 1974 that magnetic .monopoles are univer- sally required by a large class of elementary particle theories that find employment in the synthesis of electroweak and strong interac- tion, the so-called Grand Unification Theo- r ies. These monopoles are enormously massive, one has the mass o f as many as 1OI6 protons, and they could only been produced in the first instant of 1 , h " ' seconds after the crea- tion of the universe in the Big Bang. The big question is: Where are they now? At 1:52 PST February 14, 1982, Blas Cabrera of Stanford University recorded an event whose characteristics were consistent with the pas- sage of a particle with one unit of magnetic charge. No second event has been seen with this or any other experimental device. Now t h e race is still going on, mainly in three direc- tions: building more sensitive detectors, looking for indirect effects caused by mono- poles (e.9. the sunspot cycle or proton de- cay), and reviewing theories of the Big Bang that may reduce the number of created mono- poles to a few or none. It might be considered grossly improper not to mention the old loadstone in such an ad- dress to magnet.ically orientied scientists and engineers. I want to place the question in a modern setting: What is our present under- standing of permanent magnetism? [?]. Curi- ously enough we have a rather good insight into the magnetic prop.erties of 'ex0t.i~' sub- stances like rare-earth compounds or insula- tors, but the phenomena in 'classical' magnets like iron, nickel or cobalt are much less transparent. Localized spin models originating from Heisenberg give a good qualitative pic- ture of the temperature dependence. They are, however, at variance with the observed values of the saturation magnetization and the exist- ence of conduction bands. The electron band models going back to Stoner cannot account for the susceptibility above the Curie point and yield much too high Curie temperatures. Only in recent years a new t h e o r e t i c a l concept, the spin fluctuation mechanism, has come up which in a way combines the directional fluctuations of the spin vectors in the Heisenberg concept with the temperature dependence of the abso- lute value of the local spin values according to the Stoner model. This theory, using a much more intricate mathematical apparatus known from Feynman's formulation of quantum mecha- nics, has led to realistic values of the Curie temperature and to an explanation of the mas- sive short range order observed above the Curie point. New n e u t r o n scattering data, how- ever, suggest that there are no spin waves above the Curie temperature in these materials (E.P. Wohlfarth, private communication). In summing up, one might say that only the basic mechanisms determining the magnetism of transition metals are well understood. The de- tails of the theory, however, are still full of ad-hoc assumptions that should be reduced by further research. The fact that ferromagnetic or antiferro- magnetic properties are due to an ordered state of electron spins has long since raised the question whether this ordering is compa- tible with other kinds of order, e.g. the su- perconductive state. The problem was revived when i n about 1976 certain ternary and pseudo- ternary Rare Earth compounds were found to ex- hibit long-range magnetic order below their superconducting transition temperature [4]. Superconductivity was observed to coexist with antiferromagnetic order, but to be destroyed by the onset of ferromagnetic order at a se- cond transition temperature close to the Curie temperature. In ErRh484, one of the most interesting substances in this respect, the superconduc- tive transition temperature is about 8.8 K, whereas the Curie temperature is 0.9 K. Neu- tron diffraction experiments established that the ground state is indeed ferromagnetic. In addition, it revealed the existence of a sinusoidally modulated magnetic state with a wavelength of the order of 100 that coexists with superconductivity in a narrow temperature interval above the lower transition tempera- ture. Moreover, these regions of coexistence appear to be interspersed with normal ferro- magnetic domains. The understanding of this complicated behaviour is an interesting sub- ject of ongoing research. Having talked about some scientific prob- lems of magnetism I had to leave out many im- portant subjects, including the very inter- esting amorphous magnetic materials and the fascinating ma neto-optic garnets.' I take it that these w i l y be dealt with in other parts 0018-9464/84/0900-643$01.0001984 IEEE

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Page 1: Magnetism in science, business, and everyday life

IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MAGNETICS, VOL. MAG-20, NO. 5 , SEPTEMBER 1984 643

MAGNETISM I N SCIENCE, BUSINESS, AND EVERYDAY L I F E

K . J . S c h m i d t - T i e d e m a n n P h i l i p s GmbH F o r s c h u n g s l a b o r a t o r i u m H a m b u r g

M r . C h a i r m a n , L a d i e s a n d G e n t l e m e n ,

I am v e r y g r a t e f u l f o r h a v i n g b e e n i n v i t e d t o g i v e a n a d d r e s s t o s u c h a n i m p o r t a n t c o n - f e r e n c e a s t h e INTERMAG. M a g n e t i s m h a s p r o v e d t o be a b a s i c c o n s t i t u e n t o f o u r w o r l d . I n my t a l k , I s h a l l t o u c h u p o n some o f i t s m a n i f e s - t a t i o n s i n s c i e n c e , i n i n d u s t r i a l a p p l i c a t i o n , and i n e v e r y d a y l i f e .

1. S c i e n c e o f M a g n e t i s m

T h e a s t r o n o m e r F r i t z Z w i c k y (1898-1974) was once engaged i n a c o n v e r s a t i o n w i th a f u n d a - m e n t a l i s t m i n i s t e r r e g a r d i n g t h e o r i g i n o f t h e u n i v e r s e . T h e m i n i s t ' e r s a i d t h a t t h e u n i v e r s e began when God s a i d , ' L e t t h e r e b e l i g h t ' . Z w i c k y , w i t h a t h o u g h t f u l e x p r e s s i o n , r e p l i e d t h a t h e c o u l d ' b u y ' t h i s e x p l a n a t i o n o n l y i f G o d h a d s a i d ' L e t t h e r e b e l i g h t a n d a mag- n e t i c f i e l d ' [I 1 .

T o - d a y , t h e a c t o f c r e a t i o n s t i l l f i n d s c o n t i n u o u s s c i e n t i f i c i n t e r e s t b e c a u s e i t m i g h t h a v e b e e n t h e o n l y s o u r c e o f m a g n e t i c m o n o p o l e s . N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g m o d e r n p h y s i c s , t h e e a r l i e s t r e c o r d e d d i s c u s s i o n [2] o f m a g n e t i c monopo les i s c o n t a i n e d i n a l e t t e r by P e t r u s P e r e g r i n u s d e M a r i c o u r t , a f r e n c h m i l i t a r y e n g i n e e r , w h i c h h e w r o t e i n 1269 AD f r o m t h e b a t t l e f i e l d d u r i n g a s i e g e o f a r e b e l l i o u s I t a l i a n p r i n c i p a l i t y . He i n t e n d e d t o s e t f o r t h t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f a m a g n e t i c p e r p e t u a l m o t i o n m a c h i n e f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f p o t e n t i a l i n v e s - t o r s . T h i s i n n o v a t i o n , as we a r e a l l a w a r e o f , h a s n o t y e t b e e n r e a l i z e d .

Many t h e o r e t i c a l s p e c u l a t i o n s a n d i n v e s t i - g a t i o n s h a v e c u l m i n a t e d f o r t h e moment, a t l e a s t , i n t h e f i n d i n g o f P o l y a k o v a n d t ' H o o f t i n 1974 t h a t m a g n e t i c . m o n o p o l e s a r e u n i v e r - s a l l y r e q u i r e d b y a l a r g e c l a s s o f e l e m e n t a r y p a r t i c l e t h e o r i e s t h a t f i n d e m p l o y m e n t i n t h e s y n t h e s i s o f e l e c t r o w e a k a n d s t r o n g i n t e r a c - t i o n , t h e s o - c a l l e d G r a n d U n i f i c a t i o n T h e o - r i e s .

T h e s e m o n o p o l e s a r e e n o r m o u s l y m a s s i v e , o n e h a s t h e mass o f as many as 1 O I 6 p r o t o n s , a n d t h e y c o u l d o n l y b e e n p r o d u c e d i n t h e f i r s t i n s t a n t o f 1,h"' s e c o n d s a f t e r t h e c r e a - t i o n o f t h e u n i v e r s e i n t h e B i g Bang. The b i g q u e s t i o n i s : Where a r e t h e y now?

A t 1:52 PST F e b r u a r y 14, 1982, B l a s C a b r e r a o f S t a n f o r d U n i v e r s i t y r e c o r d e d a n e v e n t w h o s e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s w e r e c o n s i s t e n t w i th t h e p a s - s a g e o f a p a r t i c l e w i t h one u n i t o f m a g n e t i c c h a r g e . No s e c o n d e v e n t h a s b e e n s e e n w i t h t h i s or a n y o t h e r e x p e r i m e n t a l d e v i c e . Now t h e r a c e i s s t i l l g o i n g on, m a i n l y i n t h r e e d i r e c - t i o n s : b u i l d i n g m o r e s e n s i t i v e d e t e c t o r s , l o o k i n g f o r i n d i r e c t e f f e c t s c a u s e d by mono- p o l e s ( e . 9 . t h e s u n s p o t c y c l e o r p r o t o n d e - c a y ) , a n d r e v i e w i n g t h e o r i e s o f t h e B i g B a n g t h a t may r e d u c e t h e n u m b e r o f c r e a t e d mono- p o l e s t o a few o r none .

It m i g h t b e c o n s i d e r e d g r o s s l y i m p r o p e r n o t t o m e n t i o n t h e o l d l o a d s t o n e i n s u c h a n a d - d r e s s t o m a g n e t . i c a l l y o r i e n t i e d s c i e n t i s t s a n d e n g i n e e r s . I want t o p l a c e t h e q u e s t i o n i n a m o d e r n s e t t i n g : What i s o u r p r e s e n t u n d e r - s t a n d i n g o f p e r m a n e n t m a g n e t i s m ? [ ? ] . Cur i - o u s l y e n o u g h we h a v e a r a t h e r g o o d i n s i g h t i n t o t h e m a g n e t i c p r o p . e r t i e s o f ' e x 0 t . i ~ ' s u b -

s t a n c e s l i k e r a r e - e a r t h c o m p o u n d s o r i n s u l a - t o r s , b u t t h e p h e n o m e n a i n ' c l a s s i c a l ' m a g n e t s l i k e i r o n , n i c k e l o r c o b a l t a r e much l e s s t r a n s p a r e n t . L o c a l i z e d s p i n m o d e l s o r i g i n a t i n g f r o m H e i s e n b e r g g i v e a g o o d q u a l i t a t i v e p i c - t u r e o f t h e t e m p e r a t u r e d e p e n d e n c e . T h e y a r e , h o w e v e r , a t v a r i a n c e w i t h t h e o b s e r v e d v a l u e s o f t h e s a t u r a t i o n m a g n e t i z a t i o n a n d t h e e x i s t - e n c e o f c o n d u c t i o n b a n d s . T h e e l e c t r o n b a n d m o d e l s g o i n g b a c k t o S t o n e r c a n n o t a c c o u n t f o r t h e s u s c e p t i b i l i t y a b o v e t h e C u r i e p o i n t a n d y i e l d much t o o h i g h C u r i e t e m p e r a t u r e s . O n l y i n r e c e n t y e a r s a new t h e o r e t i c a l c o n c e p t , t h e s p i n f l u c t u a t i o n m e c h a n i s m , h a s come up wh ich i n a way c o m b i n e s t h e d i r e c t i o n a l f l u c t u a t i o n s o f t h e s p i n v e c t o r s i n t h e H e i s e n b e r g c o n c e p t w i t h t h e t e m p e r a t u r e d e p e n d e n c e o f t h e a b s o - l u t e v a l u e o f t h e l o c a l s p i n v a l u e s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e S t o n e r m o d e l . Th is t h e o r y , u s i n g a much m o r e i n t r i c a t e m a t h e m a t i c a l a p p a r a t u s k n o w n f r o m F e y n m a n ' s f o r m u l a t i o n o f q u a n t u m m e c h a - n i c s , h a s l e d t o r e a l i s t i c v a l u e s o f t h e C u r i e t e m p e r a t u r e a n d t o a n e x p l a n a t i o n o f t h e mas- s i v e s h o r t r a n g e o r d e r o b s e r v e d a b o v e t h e C u r i e p o i n t . New n e u t r o n s c a t t e r i n g d a t a , how- e v e r , s u g g e s t t h a t t h e r e a r e n o s p i n waves a b o v e t h e C u r i e t e m p e r a t u r e i n t h e s e m a t e r i a l s ( E . P . W o h l f a r t h , p r i v a t e c o m m u n i c a t i o n ) .

I n s u m m i n g u p , o n e m i g h t s a y t h a t o n l y t h e b a s i c m e c h a n i s m s d e t e r m i n i n g t h e m a g n e t i s m o f t r a n s i t i o n m e t a l s a r e w e l l u n d e r s t o o d . T h e d e - t a i l s o f t h e t h e o r y , h o w e v e r , a r e s t i l l f u l l o f a d - h o c a s s u m p t i o n s t h a t s h o u l d b e r e d u c e d by f u r t h e r r e s e a r c h .

T h e f a c t t h a t f e r r o m a g n e t i c o r a n t i f e r r o - m a g n e t i c p r o p e r t i e s a r e d u e t o a n o r d e r e d s t a t e o f e l e c t r o n s p i n s h a s l o n g s i n c e r a i s e d t h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r t h i s o r d e r i n g i s compa- t i b l e w i t h o t h e r k i n d s o f o r d e r , e . g . t h e s u - p e r c o n d u c t i v e s t a t e . The p rob lem was r e v i v e d when i n a b o u t 1976 c e r t a i n t e r n a r y a n d p s e u d o - t e r n a r y R a r e E a r t h c o m p o u n d s w e r e f o u n d t o ex- h i b i t l o n g - r a n g e m a g n e t i c o r d e r b e l o w t h e i r s u p e r c o n d u c t i n g t r a n s i t i o n t e m p e r a t u r e [ 4 ] . S u p e r c o n d u c t i v i t y was o b s e r v e d t o c o e x i s t w i t h a n t i f e r r o m a g n e t i c o r d e r , b u t t o b e d e s t r o y e d b y t h e o n s e t o f f e r r o m a g n e t i c o r d e r a t a se- c o n d t r a n s i t i o n t e m p e r a t u r e c l o s e t o t h e C u r i e t e m p e r a t u r e .

I n E r R h 4 8 4 , o n e o f t h e m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g s u b s t a n c e s i n t h i s r e s p e c t , t h e s u p e r c o n d u c - t i v e t r a n s i t i o n t e m p e r a t u r e i s a b o u t 8.8 K , w h e r e a s t h e C u r i e t e m p e r a t u r e i s 0.9 K. Neu- t r o n d i f f r a c t i o n e x p e r i m e n t s e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t t h e g r o u n d s t a t e i s i n d e e d f e r r o m a g n e t i c . I n a d d i t i o n , i t r e v e a l e d t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a s i n u s o i d a l l y m o d u l a t e d m a g n e t i c s t a t e w i t h a w a v e l e n g t h o f t h e o r d e r o f 100 t h a t c o e x i s t s w i t h s u p e r c o n d u c t i v i t y i n a n a r r o w t e m p e r a t u r e i n t e r v a l a b o v e t h e l o w e r t r a n s i t i o n t e m p e r a - t u r e . M o r e o v e r , t h e s e r e g i o n s o f c o e x i s t e n c e a p p e a r t o be i n t e r s p e r s e d w i th n o r m a l f e r r o - m a g n e t i c d o m a i n s . T h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h i s c o m p l i c a t e d b e h a v i o u r i s an i n t e r e s t i n g s u b - j e c t o f o n g o i n g r e s e a r c h .

H a v i n g t a l k e d a b o u t some s c i e n t i f i c p r o b - l e m s o f m a g n e t i s m I h a d t o l e a v e o u t many i m - p o r t a n t s u b j e c t s , i n c l u d i n g t h e v e r y i n t e r - e s t i n g a m o r p h o u s m a g n e t i c m a t e r i a l s a n d t h e f a s c i n a t i n g ma n e t o - o p t i c g a r n e t s . ' I t a k e i t t h a t t h e s e wily be d e a l t w i t h i n o t h e r p a r t s

0018-9464/84/0900-643$01.0001984 IEEE

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o f t h i s c o n f e r e n c e . I n s t e a d , I h a v e c h o s e n e x a m p l e s f r o m w h a t y o u may c a l l t h e d o m a i n o f b a s i c r e s e a r c h .

Now, b a s i c r e s e a r c h h a s r e c e n t l y come u n d e r d e b a t e i n s c i e n c e p o l i c y q u a r t e r s , b e s t i l l u s - t r a t e d by a s k i n g two q u e s t i o n s : Do we s p e n d t o o m u c h m o n e y o n b a s i c r e s e a r c h ? - How c a n b a s i c r e s e a r c h j u s t i f y i t s r e l e v a n c e ?

T h e s e a r e t r i c k y q u e s t i o n s , of c o u r s e , b u t n o n e t h e l e s s I s h o u l d l i k e t o v e n t u r e a n o p i - n i o n . As t o t h e f i r s t q u e s t i o n ( t h e a m o u n t of s p o n s o r s h i p ) I f e e l t h a t e x p e n s e s f o r m a g n e - t i c s r e s e a r c h a r e i n most ca ses r a t h e r m o d e s t a s c o m p a r e d t o o t h e r f i e l d s o f s c i e n c e l i k e e l e m e n t a r y p a r t i c l e r e s e a r c h o r s p a c e e x p l o r a - t i o n , o r e v e n i n c o m p a r i s o n w i t h d e v e l o p m e n t m o n e y s p e n t o n m a g n e t i c a p p l i c a t i o n s l i k e re- c o r d i n g , p o w e r g e n e r a t i o n , n u c l e a r f u s i o n , t r a i n s u s p e n s i o n , s e n s i n g a n d m e a s u r i n g e q u i p - m e n t , a n d so f o r t h .

As t o t h e s e c o n d q u e s t i o n ( r e l e v a n c e ) a d e - t a i l e d d i s c u s s i o n seems t o b e r a t h e r f u t i l e b e c a u s e n o n e o f u s , b e h e s c i e n t i s t , e n g i n e e r , m a n a g e r , o r a d m i n i s t r a t o r , c a n c la im t o h a v e t h e a m o u n t o f i m a g i n a t i o n n e c e s s a r y t o f o r e s e e p o s s i b l e t e c h n i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n s . And n e i t h e r d o e s h e b e c o m e more e n l i g h t e n e d by r e q u e s t i n g r e g u l a r p r o g r e s s r e p o r t s . I t j u s t d o e s n ' t h e l p t o d i g o u t a p l a n t e v e r y m o n t h t o l o o k w h e t h e r t h e r o o t s h a v e g r o w n .

I s e e s o m e r e s p e c t e d c o l l e a g u e s o f m i n e s i t t i n g h e r e l o o k i n g a t me a s i f t o s a y : You c a n n o t b e s e r i o u s ! As a n i n d u s t r i a l m a n a g e r , y o u s h o u l d k n o w b e t t e r ! We c a n n o t a b a n d o n a l l o u r r a t i o n a l c r i t e r i a !

I t h i n k , t h e r e is o n l y o n e c r i t e r i o n t h a t s h o u l d b e f i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t : E x c e l l e n c e ! Basic r e s e a r c h m u s t n e v e r b e c o m e a h i d e s p o t f o r m e d i o c r i t y . O u r p e e r s c a n s p o t a n e x c e l - l e n t p r o g r a m w h e n i t i s p r o p o s e d a n d c a r r i e d o u t . Also a m o r e a p p l i c a t i o n - o r i e n t e d s o c i e t y l i k e I E E E h a s r e c o g n i z e d e x c e l l e n t p i e c e s o f r e s e a r c h , a n d h a s b e s t o w e d s i g n s o f p u b l i c re- c o g n i t i o n u p o n t h e c o l l e a g u e s i n v o l v e d , b y c o n f e r r i n g p r i z e s a n d m e d a l s o f h o n o u r . As l o n g a s we m a i n t a i n o u r h i g h s t a n d a r d s a n d u s e t h e m i n t h e d e c i s i o n s a b o u t a l l o c a t i o n o f re- s o u r c e s , we c a n b e c o n f i d e n t t h a t t h e r e s u l t s will c o n t r i b u t e , o n e way or t h e o t h e r , t o s h a p i n g o u r s o c i e t y . T h e r e c e n t l y f o u n d e d o r p r o p o s e d m a g n e t i c r e s e a r c h c e n t r e s a t t h e U n i - v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a , S a n D i e g o , a t C a r n e g i e M e l l o n U n i v e r s i t y a t P i t t s b u r g h , a n d a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M i n n e s o t a may p r o g r e s s a l o n g t h e s e l i n e s [ 5 ] . N a t u r e st111 i s a h o r n o f p l e n t y , l e t ' s e n c o u r a g e o u r s c i e n t i s t s t o r e a c h i n t o i t i n a c a r e f u l a n d k n o w l e d g e a b l e way t o s n a t c h s o m e p i e c e s o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g !

2 . A p p l i c a t i o n s o f M a g n e t i s m

We h a v e t o u c h e d u p o n r e l e v a n c e , w h i c h m e a n s r e l e v a n c e t o t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f o u r m o d e r n s o c i e t y . So l e t me now s w i t c h t o b u s i n e s s , t o t h e i n d u s t r i a l a p p l i c a t i o n s o f m a g n e t i c s .

I may m e n t i o n i n p a s s i n g t h a t t h e P h i l i p s c o m p a n y m a d e a m a j o r i m p a c t o n t h e m a g n e t i c s m a r k e t by d e v e l o p i n g t h e f e r r i t e s , t h e h a r d F e r r o x d u r e ( R ) s i n c e 1 9 5 1 a n d t h e s o f t F e r r o x - c u b e ( R ) s i n c e 1 9 4 6 [ 6 ] . T h e l a s t - m e n t i o n e d m a t e r i a l w a s u s e d e . g . i n m i l l i o n s o f sma l l r i n g s f o r co re memories, a n d i , n l a r g e b r i c k s , made by t h e t o n , i n . p a r t i c l e a c c e l e r a t o r s l i k e t h e B r o o k h a v e n a n d C E R N m a c h i n e s . When P h i l i p s s t a r t e d t o d e l i v e r F e r r o x c u b e t o B r o o k h a v e n t h e r e o c c u r r e d a c u r i o u s l i t t l e e p i s o d e w h i c h I s h a l l r e l a t e i n t h e w o r d s o f P r o f . Casimir :

[ 6 ] ' A c c o r d i n g t o o u r m e a s u r e m e n t s t h e r i n g s we d e l i v e r e d were j u s t w i t h i n t h e a c c e p t e d s p e c i f i c a t i o n ; a c c o r d i n g t o B r o o k h a v e n t h e y were q u i t e a b i t b e t t e r . O n e o f o u r s e n i o r e n g i n e e r s i n v e s t i g a t e d a n d f o u n d t h a t a n e r r o r h a d c r e p t i n t o t h e P h i l i p s m e a s u r e m e n t s . T h e B r o o k h a v e n p e o p l e were h a p p y ; t h e y were r i g h t a n d t h e y g o t a m a t e r i a l t h a t was b e t t e r t h a n w h a t t h e y h a d b a r g a i n e d f o r , a n d we g o t t e m p o - r a r i l y a r e p u t a t i o n f o r b e i n g d u m b b u t h o n - e s t . Had t h e s i g n o f t h e e r r o r b e e n d i f f e r e n t it m i g h t h a v e b e e n d i f f i c u l t t o c o n v i n c e o u r c u s t o m e r o f o u r g o o d f a i t h . B e t t e r b e a c c u - r a t e ' .

S p e a k i n g o f f e r r i t e s seems t o i n s p i r e a n e c - d o t e s [ 7 ] . On S e p t e m b e r 4 , l a s t y e a r , t h e r e w a s a f e a t u r e o n f e r r i t e s i n o n e o f t h e G e r m a n t v c h a i n s i n w h i c h two J a p a n e s e c o l l e a g u e s were i n t r o d u c e d a s t h e i n v e n t o r s o f f e r r i t e , a n d o n e s i n g l e J a p a n e s e c o m p a n y as a p r o d u c e r o f t h i s m a r v e l l o u s m a t e r i a l . I t seems t o me t h a t h e r e t h e G e r m a n t v p e o p l e h a v e s u c c e e d e d i n s u r p a s s i n g o u r J a p a n e s e c o l l e a g u e s i n p o - l i t e n e s s , w h i c h i s , a s y o u k n o w , v i r t u a l l y i m - p o s s i b l e .

L o o k i n g a t t h e m a r k e t o f t o - d a y , t h e f i g - u r e s a r e i m p r e s s i v e [ 8 ] . M a g n e t i c c o m p o n e n t s c o n s u m p t i o n i n t h e US will r i s e i n 1 9 8 4 t o o v e r 7 1 7 mio $ o f w h i c h m o r e t h a n 50 % a r e p o w e r t r a n s f o r m e r s a n d 30 X t v m a g n e t i c c o m p o - n e n t s . I f we c o n s i d e r t h e d a t a s t o r a g e s u b - s y s t e m s w h e r e m a g n e t i c i n t e r a c t i o n s p l a y t h e k e y r o l e , we h a v e t o a d d a n o t h e r 5 , 7 b i o $, t h e m a j o r s e g m e n t s b e i n g 32 X f i x e d - d i s k s y s - tems, 2 5 % f l e x i b l e d i s k systems, a n d 1 2 76 t a p e - o r i e n t e d s y s t e m s . I n t h e M a g n e t i c S o c i e t y Newsle t te r o f s p r i n g 1 9 8 3 i t was e v e n s t a t e d t h a t t h e d o l l a r v o l u m e o f m a g n e t i c s t o r a g e p r o d u c t s s h i p p e d f r o m S i l i c o n V a l l e y i s s l i g h t l y i n e x c e s s o f t h e d o l l a r v o l u m e o f s e m i c o n d u c t o r s ! [ 5 ]

I t is n o t s u r p r i s i n g , t h e n , t h a t m a g n e t i c r e c o r d i n g p l a y s a m a j o r p a r t i n t h i s c o n f e r - e n c e , c l o s e l y f o l l o w e d by a m o r p h o u s m a t e r i a l s a n d m a g n e t o - o p t i c s , b o t h o f w h i c h a l s o f i n d i n g a p p l i c a t i o n s , a p a r t f r o m o t h e r s , i n s t o r a g e d e v i c e s . I s h a l l n o t s a y a n y t h i n g m o r e o n m a g - n e t i c s t o r a g e a n d r e c o r d i n g , w h i c h i s t h e t o p i c of o u r n e x t g u e s t s p e a k e r Mr. Morita whom we a l l know as a n e x c e l l e n t i n n o v a t o r .

As f a r as m a g n e t o - o p t i c s is c o n c e r n e d , I o n l y w a n t t o m e n t i o n b r i e f l y a n a p p l i c a t i o n t h a t h a s b e e n d e v e l o p e d i n o u r l a b o r a t o r y i n r e c e n t y e a r s . A team a r o u n d P r o f . Hill h a s m a d e a m a g n e t o - o p t i c l i g h t s w i t c h b a s e d o n G a d o l i n i u m - G a l l i u m - G a r n e t l a y e r s d e v e l o p e d i n o u r m a t e r i a l s r e s e a r c h l a b o r a t o r i e s . An i l l u - m i n a t i o n d e v i c e f o r a n e l e c t r o s t a t i c m a t r i x p r i n t e r b a s e d o n t h i s p r i n c i p l e i s e a s y t o c o n c e i v e o f , b u t n o t so e a s y t o r e a l i z e .

T h e l i g h t s w i t c h i n g a r r a y L i S A c o n s i s t s o f m o d u l e s o f 5 1 2 l i g h t v a l v e s i n a l i n e com- p l e t e d by p o l a r i z e r s , c o n t r o l c i r c u i t r y , a n d l i g h t g u i d e s . F i v e of t h e m a r e c o m b i n e d t o a n a r r a y c o v e r i n g a 21 cm l i n e w i t h a r e s o l u t i o n o f 300 d o t s p e r i n c h . T h e c o m p l e t e p r i n t h e a d i n c l u d i n g o p t i c s is p r e s e n t l y i n t h e p h a s e o f s a m p l e d e l i v e r i e s a n d t e s t m a r k e t i n g . For d e - t a i l s a b o u t c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d f u n c t i o n I m u s t r e f e r y o u t o t h e i n v i t e d p a p e r BB-03 g i v e n o n t h i s c o n f e r e n c e b y P r o f . Hill. Let u s now s w i t c h from t h e t i n y l i g h t s w i t c h e s t o a r a t h e r m a s s i v e i n n o v a t i o n , t h e m a g n e t i c l e v i - t a t i o n v e h i c l e s . I n a s e s s i o n d e v o t e d t o t h i s t o p i c ( B C ) we s a w a n i m p r e s s i v e p i c t u r e o f t h e p r o g r e s s m a d e i n v a r i o u s c o u n t r i e s , m a i n l y J a p a n a n d t h e FRG. T h e t e c h n o l o g y a s d e m o n -

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t i s s u e i n t h e efifth's m a g n e t i c f i e l d c o n t r i - b u t e s a b o u t IO- T e s l a , a n d a f a c t o r o f t e n s m a l l e r a r e t h e f i e l d s f r o m s p o n t a n e u s c o r - t i c a l a c t i v i t y , t h e A l p h a and D e l t a waves. Still an o r d e r o f m a g n i t u d e l o w e r we f i n d t h e f i e l d s due t o e v o k e d c o r t i c a l a c t i v i t y . T h i s i s a n e x t r e m e l y i n t e r e s t i n g q u a n t i t y b e c a u s e i t a l l o w s t h e r a t h e r p r e c i s e l o c a t i o n o f re - g i o n s o f n e u r a l a c t i v i t y , a n d t h e i r c o r r e l a - t i o n w i th s e n s o r y s t i m u l i , a p o w e r f u l m e t h o d o f r e s e a r c h i n t o t h e c o r t i c a l f u n r t i n n s .

s t r a t e d i n t e s t i n s t a l l a t i o n s i s r a p i d l y a t - t a i n i n g a s t a t e o f m a t u r i t y t h a t makes i t s u i t a b l e f o r p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t s e r v i c e s w i t h speeds up t o 250 mph, o r 400 km/h. The German M a g l e v t r a i n "TRANSRAPID" i s p r e s e n t l y b e i n g t e s t e d a t a n e x p e r i m e n t a l i n s t a l l a t i o n n e a r La then , Ems land , where a t r a c k o f 20 km l e n g t h i s now a v a i l a b l e a n d will b e e x t e n d e d t o a r o u n d - t r i p t r a c k o f 31 ,5 km. The v e h i c l e s e a t s 200 p e r s o n s a n d h a s a w e i g h t o f 122 t o n s . B y a n i n g e n i o u s c o n t r o l s y s t e m t h e d i s t a n c e b e - tween car and r a i l i s k e p t a t a b o u t l em. De- t a i l s a b o u t t h e s y s t e m w e r e r e l a t e d i n a p a p e r by Bohn and S te inmetz (BC--Ol ) on t h i s c o n f e r - ence.

A n o t h e r f i e l d t h a t i s p r e s e n t l y c h a r a c - t e r i z e d by a t r e m e n d o u s s p e e d o f i n n o v a t i o n i s t h e u s e o f n u c l e a r m a g n e t i c p r o p e r t i e s o f t i s - s u e f o r d i a g n o s t i c m e t h o d s by u s i n g n u c l e a r m a g n e t i c r e s o n a n c e . T h e d i s c o v e r y o f t h e u n d e r l y i n g p h y s i c a l e f f e c t d a t e s a l m o s t 40 y e a r s b a c k , a n d i t was h o n o r e d 30 y e a r s a g o b y t h e N o b e l p r i z e t o F e l i x B l o c h a n d E d w a r d Pur- c e l l . The i n t e r e s t o f t h e m e d i c a l w o r l d was a r o u s e d a b o u t 1 0 y e a r s a g o b y t h e w o r k o f P a u l L a u t e r b u r o f New Y o r k S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , S t o n y B r o o k , who d e v e l o p e d a n i m a g i n g p r o c e d u r e t h a t a l l o w e d t o t r a n s f o r m t h e r e l a x a t i o n t i m e d i s - t r i b u t i o n o f p r o t o n s i n t o g r a y s c a l e v a l u e s o f a c r o s s - s e c t i o n a l p i c t u r e o f o r g a n i c t i s s u e . A a s t o u n d i n g p r o g r e s s i n p i c t u r e q u a l i t y h a s b e e n a c h i e v e d i n t h e l a s t t e n y e a r s f r o m L a u - t e r b u r ' s t u r k e y l e g t o m o g r a m s t o t o - d a y ' s t o t a l b o d y i m a g e s o f s u p e r b r e s o l u t i o n . An- o t h e r m i l e s t o n e was t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f s u p e r - c o n d u c t i n g m a g n e t s a l l o w i n g h i g h e r m a g n e t i c f i e l d s a n d h e n c e i m p r o v e d s i g n a l - t o - n o i s e r a t i o . T h i s was f i r s t d e m o n s t r a t e d by s e v e r a l c o m p a n i e s - among w h i c h was P h i l i p s - a t t h e R a d i o l o g i c a l S o c i e t y C o n f e r e n c e i n N o v e m b e r 1 9 8 2 i n San F r a n c i s c o f o r i m a g e s o f t h e human h e a d . A b o u t o n e y e a r l a t e r f o l l o w e d t h e f i r s t t o m o g r a m s o f t h e h u m a n b o d y r e s u l t i n g f r o m a c o o p e r a t i o n b e t w e e n C o l u m b i a U n i v e r s i t y , New York , and our company.

The o b j e c t i v e s o f p r e s e n t R&D a r e m a n i - f o l d . I will m e n t i o n o n l y t w o : E n h a n c i n g f u r - t h e r t h e S / N r a t i o a n d s h o r t e n i n g t h e d u r a t i o n o f t a k i n g a p i c t u r e a r e i m p o r t a n t f o r i n c r e a s - i n g t h e p a t i e n t t h r o u g h p u t a n d i m p r o v i n g t h e economy o f t h e s e v e r y e x p e n s i v e m a c h i n e s . E x - t e n d i n g t h e m e a s u r e m e n t t o o t h e r e l e m e n t s l i k e s o d i u m o r p h o s p h o r u s will open up new p o s s i b i - l i t i e s f o r d i a g n o s t i c s o f m e t a b o l i s m i n v i v o .

The h i g h e s t f i e l d s t r e n g t h e m p l o y e d up t o now i n a t o t a l - b o d y s c a n n e r i s 2 Tes la , and we a r e p l e a s e d t o h a v e now t h e o n l y i n s t a l l a t i o n o f t h i s n a t u r e i n t h e w o r l d a t o u r d i s p o s a l i n t h e H a m b u r g L a b o r a t o r y . T h e f i r s t h e a d s c a n s were made a week a f t e r t h e m a g n e t became oper- a t i o n a l i n M a r c h , 1 9 8 4 .

I n t h e m e d i c a l s e c t o r , we ' o b s e r v e i n t h e l a s t f e w y e a r s a n o t h e r f i e l d c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y r a p i d g r o w t h o f i n t e r e s t , t h a t i s , t h e o b s e r - v a t i o n o f m a g n e t i c f i e l d s o r i g i n a t i n g f r o m o r - g a n i c p r o c e s s e s i n t h e h u m a n b o d y , e s p e c i a l l y t h e h e a r t a n d t h e b r a i n . T h e c r u c i a l p o i n t h e r e i s t o m e a s u r e v e r y weak m a g n e t i c f i e l d s .

I n FIG. 1 , we h a v e t h e p r o b l e m i n a n u t - s h e l l 1 9 1 . The f i e l d s t r e n g t h a m p l i t u d e , n o r - m a l i z e d t o 1Hz b a n d w i d t h , o f v a r i o u s s i g n a l s a n d n o i s e s o u r c e s i s p l o t t e d vs t h e o p e r a t i n g f r e q u e n c y . L o o k i n g a t t h e s i g n a l s t r e n g t h , w h i c h i s g i v e n i n u n i t s o f f e m t o T e s l a , we s e e t h a t t h e l a r g e s t s i g n a l s come f r o m m a g n e t i ' c d u s t i n t h e l u n g s , f r o m a b d o m i n a l m o t i o n , a n d f r o m t h e h e a r t . T h e d i a m a g n e t i s m o f n o r m a l

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FREOUENCY (after W.LUDWIG)

F I G . 1: C o m p a r i s o n o f t h e s t r e n g t h o f v a r i - o u s s i g n a l a n d n o i s e s o u r c e s i n b i o - m a g n e t i c e x p e r i m e n t s [ 9 ]

I s o b s e r v e f i e l d s t r e n g t h s o f t h e o r d e r o f IO- T e s l a , a h i g h - s e n s i t i v i t y m a g n e t o m e t e r i s needed and a g o o d s h i e l d f r o m m a g n e t i c d i s - t u r b a n c e s f r o m t h e e n v i r o n m e n t . T h e o n l y d e - v i c e p r e s e n t l y a v a i l a b l e t o d e t e c t s u c h s m a l l f i e l d s i s t h e S Q U I D , t h e s u p e r c o n d u c t i v e q u a n - t u m i n t e r f e r e n c e d e v i c e . I n 1970 i t was f i r s t a p p l i e d t o m e a s u r e b i o m a g n e t i c f i e l d s o r i g i - n a t i n g i n a human body. Now, h o w e v e r , v a r i o u s t y p e s o f m a g n e t o m e t e r s or g r a d i o m e t e r s ( m e a s - u r i n g t h e s p a c e d e r i v a t i v e o f t h e m a g n e t i c f i e l d ) a r e c o m m e r c i a l l y a v a i l a b l e f r o m s e v e r a l c o m p a n i e s . I n t h e f i g u r e , y o u s e e f r o m t h e s e n s i t i v i t y r a n g e s i n d i c a t e d t h a t w i t h S Q U I D m a g n e t o m e t e r s , t h e n e c e s s a r y s e n s i t i v i t y t o m e a s u r e e v o k e d c o r t i c a l s i g n a l s c a n i n d e e d b e r e a c h e d .

The S Q U I D i t s e l f , a s u p e r c o n d u c t i v e r i n g w i t h ' o n e ( o r two ) weak spo ts , i s c o u p l e d t o t h e m e a s u r i n g r e g i o n by s u p e r c o n d u c t i v e c o i l s

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a n d c o n n e c t e d t o a n e l e c t r o n i c e v a l u a t i o n c i r - c u i t . A t y p i c a l D C S Q U I D d e l i v e r s a v o l t a g e d i f f e r e n c e o f a b o u t 1 M i c r o v o l t l o i f t h e f i e l d t h r o u g h t h e r i n g v a r i e s b y IO- T e s l a ( t h e s i g n a l v s f l u x c u r v e b e i n g a p e r i o d i c f u n c - t i o n ) [ I O ] . E l e c t r o n i c s i g n a l p r o c e s s i n g , a d a p t e d t o t h e p u r p o s e of t h e m e a s u r e m e n t , i s e s s e n t i a l f o r a t t a i n i n g a n o p t i m u m S/N r a t i o .

T h e l a s t p o i n t I w a n t t o m a k e i n t h i s c o n - n e c t i o n is o n m a g n e t i c s h i e l d i n g . I n g r a d i o - me te r s , a n i n t e r n a l s u p p r e s s i o n o f h o m o g e n e o u s f i e l d s o f u p t o 120 d b c a n b e a c h i e v e d b y p r o p e r c o i l c o n f i g u r a t i o n s [ 9 ] . T h e b e s t s o l u - t i o n , h o w e v e r , a n d a l s o t h e most e x p e n s i v e o n e , i s a m a g n e t i c a l l y s h i e l d e d r o o m . T h e h i g h e s t p e r f o r m a n c e i s p r e s e n t l y d e m o n s t r a t e d b y t h e t h r e e s h i e l d e d r o o m s a t MIT, i n O t a - n i e m i , a n d a t P T B i n B e r l i n . T h e P T B s h i e l d e d r o o m [I131 c o n s i s t s o f a c a b i n e t o f v o l u m e ( 2 , 2 5 m) m a d e o f 1 5 m m t h i c k c o p p e r p l a t e s w e i g h i n g 5 t o n s . C o p p e r is u s e d a s a n e d d y - c u r r e n t s h i e l d a n d f o r m e c h a n i c a l s t a b i l i t y t o a v o i d m i c r o p h o n y e f f e c t s . T h i s c o p p e r c u b e i s s u r r o u n d e d b y 6 l a y e r s o f M u m e t a l l ( R ) , a mag- n e t i c a l l y v e r y s o f t n i c k e l - i r o n a l l o y s h o w i n g p e r m e a b i l i t y v a l u e s f o r s m a l l p i e c e s u p t o 1 0 0 . 0 0 0 , b u t b e i n g a l s o v e r y s e n s i t i v e t o b e n d i n g o r s t r a i n . 10 t o n s o f t h i s m a t e r i a l t o g e t h e r w i t h 5 t o n s o f s t a i n l e s s s t e e l f o r m t h e o u t e r s h i e l d . T h e t o t a l s h i e l d i n g f a c t o r i s 10 .000 f o r s t a t i c f i e l d s , 1 4 0 . 0 0 0 a t 50 Hz a n d 1 .OOO.OOO a t 1000 Hz.

W i t h i n t h i s c h a m b e r , v e r y f i n e d e t a i l s o f m a g n e t i c f i e l d s o f t h e h e a r t (MKG) h a v e b e e n d e t e c t e d w i t h a r e s o l u t i o n o f 4 0 f e m t o T e s l a . T h e k n o w l e d g e a c h i e v e d w i t h t h i s s h i e l d e d r o o m will a l s o be a p p l i e d i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d d e s i g n o f l e s s e x p e n s i v e s h i e l d i n g d e v i c e s t h a t c a n f i n d b r o a d c l i n i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n .

I w a n t t o c l o s e t h i s s e c t i o n o f my t a l k b y some g e n e r a l r e m a r k s o n a p p l i c a t i o n s . T h e c a t c h w o r d , o f c o u r s e , i s i n n o v a t i o n a s o n e o f t h e b a s i c p r i n c i p l e s of i n t e r n a t i o n a l com- p e t i t i o n . I t h a s o f t e n b e e n s a i d t h a t E u r o p e i s r a t h e r g o o d a t c r e a t i n g new i d e a s , b u t w e a k i n t r a n s f o r m i n g t h e s e i d e a s i n t o s u c c e s s f u l l y m a r k e t a b l e p r o d u c t s . So t h e n o t i o n o f t e c h n o - l o g y t r a n s f e r a r o s e , a n d many o f f i c e s , c o n - s u l t i n g b o d i e s , t e c h n o l o g y a g e n t s , i n f o r m a t i o n c e n t r e s , s p o n s o r s h i p p r o g r a m s f o r y o u n g e n t r e - p r e n e u r s a n d s o f o r t h were f o u n d e d w i t h t h e aim t o t r a n s f e r k n o w l e d g e from a c a d e m i c q u a r - t e r s i n t o i n d u s t r y . R e c e n t l y a G e r m a n g o v e r n - m e n t o f f i c i a l t o l d me t h a t t h e l a r g e n u m b e r o f d i s c u s s i o n s a n d s y m p o s i a o n t h e s u b j e c t may o n t h e c o n t r a r y b e a n i n d i c a t i o n t h a t t h e s e s c h e m e s d o n o t w o r k s a t i s f a c t o r i l y . A s s u m i n g f o r t h e m o m e n t t h a t t h e r e is s o m e t r u t h i n t h i s s t a t e m e n t , we h a v e t o a s k o u r s e l v e s : why d o e s n ' t i t w o r k , a n d how c a n we i m p r o v e t h e s i t u a t i o n ?

We may g e t s o m e i n s i g h t by l o o k i n g a t t h e p h a s e s o f a n i n n o v a t i o n . T h e f i r s t p h a s e , re- s e a r c h , may s t a r t w i t h t h e d i s c o v e r y o f a new e f f e c t a n d e n d w i t h a l a b o r a t o r y m o d e l t h a t d e m o n s t r a t e s a c e r t a i n new p r o d u c t f u n c t i o n u n d e r l a b o r a t o r y c o n d i t i o n s . T h i s r e s u l t , how- e v e r , is f a r f r o m b e i n g a t e c h n o l o g y b e c a u s e i t d o e s n o t f u l f i l l t e c h n i c a l r e q u i r e m e n t s s u c h a s e . g . s t a b i l i t y , p r o d u c e a b i l i t y , a n d e c o n o m y . I t is a n o l d r u l e o f t h u m b g o i n g b a c k t o P e t e r D r u c k e r t h a t t h e d e v e l o p m e n t p h a s e f r o m a l a b m o d e l t o a p r o t o t y p e f i t f o r p r o - d u c t i o n is t e n times m o r e e x p e n s i v e t h a n t h e r e s e a r c h p h a s e . F u r t h e r m o r e , i t c o n t a i n s a l o t o f a d d i t i o n a l t e c h n i c a l r i s k f a c t o r s . I t seems t h a t t h i s p h a s e i s o n e o f t h e m a j o r o b s t a c l e s

t o i n n o v a t i o n , I t c a n n o t b e p e r f o r m e d b y a c a - d e m i a b e c a u s e t h e r e n e i t h e r t h e m e a n s n o r t h e p r a c t i c a l know-how a r e a v a i l a b l e . And i t c a n - n o t g e n e r a l l y b e d o n e b y a s m a l l t r a d i t i o n a l c o m p a n y d u e t o l a c k o f r e s o u r c e s i n c a p i t a l , m a n p o w e r , a n d k n o w l e d g e . So t h e o n l y o r g a n i z a - t i o n s a b l e t o s t a b i l i z e new t e c h n o l o g i e s a t l a r g e seem t o b e t h e R & O d e p a r t m e n t s o f b i g i n d u s t r i e s . T h e r o l e o f h i - t e c s m a l l c o m p a n i e s s h o u l d n o t b e u n d e r e s t i m a t e d i n t h e i r s t i m u - l a t i n g p o w e r t o t h e w h o l e i n d u s t r y , b u t t h e y will e i t h e r g r o w i n t o l a r g e r f i r m s t h e m s e l v e s o r will s e r v e s m a l l s p e c i a l i z e d n i c h e s o f t h e m a r k e t .

T h e q u e s t i o n o f how t o i m p r o v e t h e s i t u a - t i o n is d i f f i c u l t t o a n s w e r b e c a u s e t h e r e a l p i c t u r e o f i n t e r a c t i o n o f a c a d e m i c , t e c h n i c a l , e c o n o m i c , a n d p o l i t i c a l f o r c e s a n d i n t e r e s t s i s e x t r e m e l y c o m p l e x . A f i r s t r e c o m m e n d a t i o n may b e t o s t r e n g t h e n i n d u s t r i a l R & D , i f n e c e s - s a r y by c o o p e r a t i o n a n d t h r o u g h r i s k - r e d u c i n g f i n a n c i n g m e t h o d s , a n d t o p r o v i d e a d d i t i o n a l e d u c a t i o n f o r e n g i n e e r s t o a c q u a i n t t h e m w i t h m o d e r n t e c h n o l o g i e s t o t h e b e n e f i t o f s m a l l e r c o m p a n i e s . B o t h w a y s a r e a l r e a d y b e i n g f o l - l o w e d i n s o m e i n s t a n c e s , b u t o n t o o s m a l l a s c a l e t o h a v e a r e a l i m p a c t o n t h e s i t u a t i o n .

- 3 . M a q n e t i s m i n E v e r y d a y L i f e

I n c l o s i n g , I w a n t t o s a y s o m e t h i n g a b o u t t h e i n f l u e n c e o f m a g n e t i s m o n o u r e v e r y d a y l i f e . I t h a s b e c o m e s o common t h a t i t e s c a p e s o u r a t t e n t i o n , b u t f o r i n s t a n c e s o f m a l f u n c - t i o n t h a t a r e v e r y r a r e i n d e e d . We a r e s u r - r o u n d e d b y a h o s t o f t e c h n i c a l p r o d u c t s t h a t m a k e use o f m a g n e t i s m . I g u e s s t h a t y o u , a l l t h e m e m b e r s o f t h i s a u d i e n c e , e m p l o y b e t w e e n 1 0 . 0 0 0 a n d 20 .000 e l e c t r i c m o t o r s i n y o u r h o m e s a n d m a y b e a n o t h e r 5 . 0 0 0 i n y o u r c a r s . O u r t v se t s a n d o u r h i f i e q u i p m e n t , e v e n t h e c h i l d r e n ' s t o y s c o n t a i n many m a g n e t i c o r e l e c - t r o m a g n e t i c c o m p o n e n t s , t h e s a m e h o l d s f o r o u r o f f i c e a n d p r o d u c t i o n e q u i p m e n t . Many s e r v i c e s we demand make use o f m a g n e t i c s , a b o v e a l l t h e p u b l i c u t i l i t i e s , p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t , a n d t h e p u b l i c t e l e p h o n e a n d b r o a d c a s t i n g systems w i t h t h e i r m o d e r n r a m i f i c a t i o n s i n t o t h e w o r l d o f d i g i t a l i n f o r m a t i o n h a n d l i n g .

B u t t e c h n i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n s a r e a l a t e c o m e r c o m p a r e d t o n a t u r e ' s l o n g s t a n d i n g use o f m a g - n e t i s m . O u r e v e r y d a y l i f e w o u l d s i m p l y n o t e x i s t h a d n a t u r e n o t b i l l i o n s o f y e a r s a g o i n - s t a l l e d a m a g n e t i c f i e l d a r o u n d t h e e a r t h t o s h i e l d t h e s e n s i t i v e e v o l u t i o n o f l i f e f r o m t h e r a d i a t i o n o f t h e s o l a r w i n d . I t i s i n a w a y s u r p r i s i n g t h a t we d o n o t k n o w e x a c t l y w h a t t h e o r i g i n o f t h i s f i e l d i s a n d how i t s s e c u l a r v a r i a t i o n s a n d p o l a r i t y c h a n g e s c o m e a b o u t , a l t h o u g h g e o m a g n e t i s m h a s b e c o m e a v i v i d a n d r e s p e c t e d s c i e n c e .

L i f e o n e a r t h h a s t a k e n a d v a n t a g e o f t h i s m a g n e t i c f i e l d b y d e v e l o p i n g m e t h o d s o f m a g - n e t i c o r i e n t a t i o n i n b a c t e r i a , i n s e c t s , f i s h , b i r d s , a n d m a m m a l s . Human b e i n g s o f c o u r s e d i s c o v e r e d t h e m a g n e t i c c o m p a s s , b u t w e r e less l u c k y i n u s i n g m a g n e t i c f i e l d s f o r d i r e c t l y i n f l u e n c i n g b i o l o g i c a l f u n c t i o n s a l t h o u g h i t h a s b e e n t r i e d s i n c e t h e t imes o f a r c h a i c m e d i c i n e . Up t o n o w , t h e s k e p t i c s l i k e W i l l i a m G i l b e r t , w h o w a s t h e p r i v a t e p h y s i c i a n o f Q u e e n E l i s a b e t h I a n d i s we l l known t o t h e a u d i e n c e a s a u t h o r o f t h e f a m o u s b o o k ' D e Mag- n e t e ' ( 1 6 0 0 ) , h a v e b e e n r i g h t i n f o l l o w i n g h i s s t a t e m e n t t h a t t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f l o a d s t o n e s h a d n o c u r a t i v e p o w e r s [ I Z ] .

B u t t h a t d i d n o t p r e v e n t o t h e r s f r o m e s t a b -

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l i s h i n g a n d s e l l i n g v a r i o u s s o r t s o f m a g n e t i c t r e a t m e n t . One c u r i o u s e x a m p l e i s t h e ' c e l e s - t i a l b e d ' o f a c e r t a i n James Graham (he c a l l e d h i m s e l f M.D.) w h i c h was i n s t a l l e d i n 1781 i n h i s rooms i n Pa.11 M a l l a n d r e n t e d t o c o u p l e s f o r a sum o f f 50, l a t e r on f 500, p e r n i g h t . He w r o t e : ' A b o u t 1 .500 p o u n d s w e i g h t o f a r t i - f i c i a l and compound magnets , a re so d i s p o s e d a n d a r r a n g e d , a s t o b e c o n t i n u a l l y p o u r i n g f o r t h , i n a n e v e r - f l o w i n g c i r c l e , i n c o n c e i v - a b l e a n d i r r e s i s t a b l y p o w e r f u l t i d e s o f t h e m a g n e t i c e f f l u v i u m ' . It was s a i d t h a t c h i l d r e n p r o c r e a t e d i n t h i s b e d w e r e b y n e c e s s i t y ' s t r o n g , b e a u t i f u l , b r i l l i a n t , n a y d o u b l e - d i s t i l l e d ' [13].

I n our days , we f i n d now a n d t h e n new d i s - c o v e r i e s a b o u t m a g n e t i c h e a l i n g d e v i c e s , m a i n l y i n s h o r t a d s i n what we c a l l t h e ' r a i n - bow p r e s s f . If t h e r e i s a n y s e r i o u s r e s e a r c h i n t o m e d i c a l p o w e r s o f m a g n e t i c f i e l d s , we s h o u l d a t l e a s t g i v e i t t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e d o u b t . It i s n o t s u r p r i s i n g t h a t m a g n e t i s m h a s

a l s o f o u n d i t s e n t r a n c e i n t o p i e c e s o f a r t . We f i n d m a g n e t i c h a r d w a r e e . g . i n some o f t h e s l o w - m o v i n g o b j e c t s o f P a u l B u r y , a n d o f c o u r s e i n l i t e r a t u r e w i d e s p r e a d u s e i s made o f t h e s y n o n y m i t y o f ' m a g n e t i c ' a n d ' a t t r a c t i n g ' . B u t t h e r e a r e a l s o m o r e s o p h i s t i c a t e d e x - a m p l e s . C h r i s t i a n M o r g e n s t e r n ' s l e g e n d a r y f i g u r e P a l m s t r b ' m t u r n s t h e h e a d o f h i s b e d t o t h e n o r t h b e c a u s e , d u e t o t h e c o n t i n u o u s mag- n e t i s m o f t h e p l a n e t , i n a l l o t h e r d i r e c t i o n s t h e h e a r t will g e t t i r e d [ 141. And i n 1881 W i l l i a m G i l b e r t ( l a t e r S i r W i l l i a m ) , o b v i o u s l y n o t i d e n t i c a l w i t h t h e G i l b e r t m e n t i o n e d a b o v e , b u t w e l l k n o w n a s one h a l f o f G i l b e r t a n d S u l l i v a n , w r o t e a s o n g f o r h i s o p e r e t t a ' P a t i e n c e ' a b o u t t h e u n h a p p y l o v e o f an i r o n magnet t o a s i l v e r c h u r n . The reason why he was n o t a b l e t o a t t r a c t h e r became known only 40 y e a r s l a t e r - i t was s i m p l y a m a t t e r o f e l e c t r o n c o n f i g u r a t i o n [15].

M i c h a e l F a r a d a y w r o t e m o r e t h a n 150 y e a r s a g o : ' T h e l e c t u r e r s h o u l d g i v e t h e a u d i e n c e f u l l r e a s o n t o b e l i e v e t h a t a l l h i s p o w e r s h a v e b e e n e x e r t e d f o r t h e i r p l e a s u r e a n d i n - s t r u c t i o n ' [16]. I d o n ' t t h i n k I c o u l d g i v e t h i s d i s t i n g u i s h e d g a t h e r i n g o f , e x p e r t s a n y - t h i n g b y way O F i n s t r u c t i o n , b u t I hope t o h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d a l i t t l e t o y o u r e n t e r t a i n - m e n t !

Acknow ledqernen t

R e f e r e n c e s

[I ] R . L. Weber (ed.) . More Random Walks i n Sc ience . London : The I n s t . o f P h y i i c s ,

. . 1982, p. 149. [ 2 ] W. P. T r o w e r , " M a g n e t i c D e t e c t i o n o f Mag-

n e t i c M o n o p o l e s " I E E E T r a n s . Mag.,

[3] R . J. J e l i t t o and A. Z i e g l e r , " F e r r o m a g - n e t i s m u s b e i U b e r a a n a s m e t a l l e n "

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< -

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