New Type of Chemical Bond Predicted To Exist In White Dwarfs 97
ananyo writes "A previously unknown type of powerful chemical bond should be induced by the ferocious magnetic fields of white dwarfs and neutron stars, according to computer simulations. If the effect can be harnessed in the lab, 'magnetized matter' could be exploited for quantum computing. Chemists identify two classes of strong molecular bonds: ionic bonds, in which electrons from one atom hop over to another, and covalent bonds, in which electrons are shared between atoms. But researchers at the University of Oslo accidentally discovered a third bonding mechanism when they simulated how atoms should behave under magnetic fields of about 105 tesla — 10,000 times the biggest fields that can be generated on Earth (abstract)."
105 Tesla isn't that strong a field... (Score:2, Interesting)
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-06/german-lab-generates-highest-magnetic-field-ever-created-lab [popsci.com]
Using a two-layer, 440-pound copper coil the size of a water bucket, they managed to coax 91.4 teslas from their creation for just a few milliseconds, surpassing the previous record of 89 teslas.
Now I'll have to go and read the abstract...
Tim.
In the interests of fairness... (Score:4, Interesting)
Our magnet crazed Floridians [fsu.edu] have a 45 tesla magnet that can operate for short periods without destroying itself and the most powerful 'destructive pulsed electromagnets' can reach ~1000 tesla, for their quite brief operational lives. (.flv of such a magnet giving its life for science [fsu.edu])
Re:Third type of chemical bond? (Score:4, Interesting)