Scholes finds novel magnetic field effect in diamagnetic molecules

phys.org ^ | 05/04/2020 | Princeton University

[BenLurkin]

Experimenting with a magnetic field almost 1M times stronger than that of the Earth, researchers in the Scholes Group were able to modify the optoelectronic properties of model nonmagnetic organic chromophores. The modifications, according to the paper, arise from the induction of ring currents in the aromatic molecules.

Aromatic ring currents can be understood as the proposal that electrons delocalized by aromaticity will move circularly when a magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the aromatic plane, typically nudging chemical shifts of nearby atoms in NMR spectroscopy.

For the experiment, researchers chose a model aromatic chromophore called a phthalocyanine, which has a molecular structure similar to chlorophyll—nature's light absorber—but with stronger absorption of visible light and higher stability. The calculations on this model phthalocyanine compound and its aggregates showed clear, magnetic field-dependent changes to phthalocyanine's ability to absorb light. These results mark the first to demonstrate magnetic field dependent changes to the absorption spectrum of diamagnetic molecules. But it wasn't until researchers applied the classical analogue of the solenoid...

With their thinking grounded in the behavior of solenoids... they were able to rationalize that the increased magnetic field sensitivity they were observing in the phthalocyanine aggregates could depend on the relative arrangement of the phthalocyanine rings in the aggregate.

Initiated three years ago, the research project combined experiments using a high magnetic field and ultrafast spectroscopy capabilities. Part of it was performed with the Split-Florida Helix Magnet at the National High Magnetic Field Facility in Tallahassee, Florida, which boasts the world's strongest magnet for NMR spectroscopy. This one-of-a-kind magnet can reach and sustain magnetic field strengths of up to 25 T in a completely resistive fashion—in and of itself likely the most powerful solenoid on the planet. When operational, the magnet uses 2% of the power in the city.

[BenLurkin]

"Not only did this add extra validation to our computational support, but it also lent credence to this idea of coupled aromatic ring currents—the ring currents of neighboring phthalocyanine chromophores in the aggregate have a geometry dependent on amplification of magnetic field sensitivity,"

[Candor7]

“Gregory Scholes, the William S. Todd Professor of Chemistry, and Bryan Kudisch, a fifth-year graduate student and the paper’s lead author, said the discovery could allow scientists to fundamentally change the electronic and photophysical properties of some classes of molecules by using the magnetic field as a “handle.””

This seems to say that we are nearly on the path to discovering cloaking devices and maybe anti gravity flight.

But we do have a caveat!

JOe Biden, keep your hands off my solenoid!( We will only get fundiung from President Trump not the Dems. Its not green science.)

[Mr. K]

I think most of those words are made up...

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

Ok, so I waded through the gobledygook so others don’t have to.

Essentially this might open up potential new display technology and new circuitry materials depending on cost (Not likely). Other than that, it excites geeky chicks at the bar when you tell them what you do.

[rightwingcrazy]

“When operational, the magnet uses 2% of the power in the city.”

That puts a wet blanket on a lot of potential applications. On the other hand, energy is awfully cheap right now.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks BenLurkin, what an attractive topic.

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[Sacajaweau]

Damn...I thought they’d never find it. Where’s George? He’s the one that gave it away.

[Track9]

If I start frying some olive oil and garlic and then break out the block of Parmesan, I might begin to understand. Otherwise it’s a complete mystery.

[Yo-Yo]

It all starts with the Turbo Encabulator.

[Boogieman]

All words are made up.

[Boogieman]

Well, there are plenty of aromatic compounds in garlic, but probably not the kind they are talking about here.

[American in Israel]

It might work in a new display but it erases your credit cards...

These guys discovered perfume is magnetic.

[moovova]

“novel magnetic field effect”

Does it have any effect on the novel coronavirus?

[SunTzuWu]

Thanks for the ping.
Love the gif.

[SunkenCiv]

I nicked it from Herosmith.

[zeugma]

I literally laughed out loud at the cat picture. That was really funny.

[Ranxerox]

See - I told you so!

[.44 Special]

Don’t start that crap again. NASA is still looking for test stand 3. It was last seen in the high bay in the O&C building at KSC just before they reversed the tri-chotametric indicator brackets.

[SunkenCiv]

I love how quietly the human hand just sneaked in and swiped the water, and how (if I didn't know better) it looks like the cat may have been having a bit of trouble getting up that morning.