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Refrigeration
    
  Conventional and magnetic refrigeration cycles use different physical effects to cool things off. Top image: When a gas is compressed (2), it heats up, but if it is cooled and then allowed to expand (3), its temperature drops much lower than it was originally (4); this principle keeps food in your home refrigerator cool. But a magnetocaloric material (at bottom) heats up when magnetized (b); if cooled and then demagnetized (c), its temperature drops dramatically (d). NIST scientists may have found a way to use magnetocalorics in your fridge.
*NCNR

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January 27, 2009

Reference Number
                                09NCNR002

Credit
                                Credit: Talbott, NIST

Image Type
                    Infographic HEADQUARTERS
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