22nd Magnet Technology Conference held in Marseille

How do you build a better magnet?  This coming September, over 700 of the world's foremost experts in all aspects of magnet technology will gather in Marseille for the 22nd meeting of the biennial Magnet Technology conference (MT-22).  First established in 1965, the Magnet Technology conference is the world's largest gathering dedicated specifically to advancing the science and technology of magnet applications, from the MRI machines that allow for non-invasive examination of the human body to the powerful, high-current superconducting cables that will contain, shape, and drive the ITER plasma.

Because of the international nature of the magnet community, the conference location rotates between North America, Europe, and Asia.  This year, which happens to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of superconductivity, is Europe's turn, and the ITER Organization has agreed to host the event, as ITER is a critical project pushing the boundaries of existing magnet technology in a wide variety of areas.

Abstract submission for the conference recently closed; the organizers received a record number of abstracts highlighting both the overall interest in the field and also interest in the ITER project. "This shows the vitality of our discipline in all the topics of the conference, at the moment when we are celebrating the centenary of Superconductivity but also the fifty years of Applied Superconductivity which is the main focus of our Conference," said Jean-Luc Duchateau of CEA, the scientific program chair for MT-22. 

In parallel to the technical sessions of the conference, ITER and CEA are organizing a scientific and industrial exhibition to be held on site at the conference venue, to allow the scientists and engineers involved in magnet technology research to interact with the companies and organizations who are responsible for building the actual hardware that comprises the world's most sophisticated and advanced magnet systems. Registration for the conference opens on 1 April, 2011, and more information on all aspects of the conference taking place at the Parc Chanot in Marseille may be found on the MT-22 web site at www.mt22.org. A special evening will be dedicated to celebrating the 100th anniversary of superconductivity and selected papers will be published in a dedicated issue of IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity.