press release
Successful commercialization of ultra-high magnetic field superconducting magnet for 1.2 GHz high-resolution NMR ~ Fujikura's high-temperature superconducting technology contributes to the commercialization of world-class NMR ~
May 15, 2020
Bruker Corporation
Fujikura Ltd.
BRUKER Corporation (CEO: Frank Laokin, hereinafter "Bruker") and Fujikura Ltd. (President and CEO: Masahiko Ito, hereinafter "Fujikura"), which have been business partners in the field of superconductivity technology for many years, have now achieved a major milestone as a result of their collaboration.
Fujikura has successfully manufacturing into practical use an ultra-high magnetic field superconducting magnet for high-resolution NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) of 1.2 GHz (magnetic field 28.2 Tesla), which uses a high-magnetic field core made of rare-earth high-temperature superconducting wire developed and manufactured by Fujikura. The magnetic field strength of 28.2 Tesla corresponds to a 1H resonance frequency of 1.2 GHz in NMR, which is the current world record for high-resolution NMR.
【point】
- ■ BRUKER Corporation, the world's leading supplier of NMR spectrometers, has successfully commercialized the world's highest level of high-resolution NMR at 1.2 GHz (magnetic field 28.2 Tesla), and has already begun using the product.
- ■ Fujikura's rare earth high-temperature superconducting wires contributed to the commercialization of this 1.2GHz NMR spectrometer
- ■ Ultra-high magnetic field NMR is a device that will bring great benefits to society, as it will also be used in research on COVID-19, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cancer research.
NMR is an analytical technique that has a wide range of practical applications, including precise structural analysis of chemical substances, quality control (QC), materials science, and structural biology. In NMR, the measurement sample is placed in a strong magnetic field. The stronger the magnetic field, the better the resolution and sensitivity, so a stronger magnetic field is required. Until recently, niobium titanium (NbTi) and niobium tin (Nb3Sn) were the mainstream low-temperature superconducting wires available for commercial use. Due to their characteristics, these wires had a limit of about 23.5 Tesla (1H NMR resonance frequency of 1 GHz), but Fujikura's rare-earth high-temperature superconducting wires have broken that barrier and contributed to the commercialization of 1.1 GHz and 1.2 GHz NMR spectrometers.
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Appearance of 1.2GHz NMR developed by Bruker |
Bruker is the world's leading supplier of NMR spectrometers and has historically pioneered the field of ultra-high field (UHF) NMR. Rainer Kuhmerle, head of Bruker's applications team, explains:
"Ultra-high field NMR is a very active area of research that offers great benefits to society. For example, one of our users' laboratories is analyzing the RNA and protein structure of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and investigating the efficacy of small molecule drugs. In addition, it is being used for important and groundbreaking research into proteins and structures related to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as in cancer research. We have been involved in high-temperature superconducting magnet research for many years and are proud to be able to bring our work to the NMR research field. We recently provided the NMR community with the first record-breaking NMR spectrometer above 1 GHz."
Fujikura is a representative Japanese cutting-edge technology company with advanced technological capabilities in industrial products such as power lines, communication lines, and Optcal Fiber, and the technology to manufacturing long objects is essential for these products. This technology is also utilized in the development and manufacturing of high-temperature superconducting wire. Fujikura's outstanding manufacturing technology has made it possible to stably produce second-generation rare-earth high-temperature superconducting wire on a commercial basis.
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Appearance of Fujikura's high-temperature superconducting wire |
"Bruker is committed to delivering the highest quality, reliable and reliable 1.2 GHz superconducting magnets in the industry," said Patrick Wicks, head of 1.2 GHz superconducting magnet development at Bruker.
"The quality of Fujikura's rare earth high-temperature superconducting wire is impeccable and extremely high quality. We are very impressed with Fujikura's manufacturing stability and product reliability. We have tested high-temperature superconducting wire from several companies, but Fujikura's high-temperature superconducting products are the best in the world. We rate Fujikura's products highly."
In addition to NMR for advanced analysis, rare earth high-temperature superconducting wires can be used in a variety of applications, including medical MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), highly efficient generators, particle accelerators, and nuclear fusion. The practical application of Bruker's ultra-high magnetic field 1.2 GHz NMR is an amazing achievement and a successful example of large-scale commercial use of this cutting-edge technology. Fujikura will continue to contribute to society through technology for a variety of applications, in addition to improving the quality of people's lives in this way.
<Inquiries>
【NMRに関するお問合せ】
ブルカージャパン株式会社
バイオスピン事業部
E-mail：Marketing.BBIO.JP@bruker.com
【超電導線材に関するお問合せ】
株式会社フジクラ
新規事業推進センター 超電導事業推進室
E-mail : ask-sc@jp.fujikura.com
