Final answer:
High-field MRI scanners use superconducting electromagnets to produce magnetic fields between 1 and 2 Tesla, which enables detailed medical imaging of the body's hydrogen protons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The components of the most common magnet used in all high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners are superconducting electromagnets, which typically create magnetic fields between 1 and 2 Tesla (T) in strength. In the field of medical imaging, these superconducting magnets provide a large and uniform magnetic field that enables the imaging of hydrogen protons in the body, which comprise approximately two-thirds of the body's atoms. The response of these protons to the magnetic field provides detailed information about body structures, organ function, and helps in identifying conditions such as tumors, strokes, and infections.
Superconducting electromagnets attain such high magnetic fields by using materials that have zero electrical resistance at very low temperatures. These magnets are more powerful than the strongest permanent magnets and are capable of producing fields that surpass 10 T. In comparison, the Earth's magnetic field on its surface is only about 0.5 Gauss (G), equivalent to 5 × 10-5 T.