Superconductivity was first discovered in 1911 by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, who was studying the resistivity of solid mercury at cryogenic temperatures using the recently discovered liquid helium as a refrigerant. It took over 50 years to develop the first commercial superconducting wire, a niobium-titanium alloy.  These alloys form the basis of today’s high field MRI magnets, the single largest application of superconductivity. In the 1980’s, the utilization of superconducting high field magnets formed the basis of the MRI revolution.

Over the past two decades, researchers in the Electromagnetics and Superconductivity Lab have developed many key technologies for GE’s MRI magnets and gradients.

Our lab conducts research and development in superconducting, cryogenic, and related electromagnetic technology.  The lab focuses on large-scale applications of superconductivity such as MRI magnets and related technologies like gradients and superconducting generators.  We also work with the U.S. government to develop advanced high temperature superconducting applications for both MRI and power generation. 

In addition, members of the lab work closely with experts from both MR and power generation to develop advanced superconducting applications and collaborate extensively with materials, electronics, and machines experts across GE Global Research.