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Quantum Levitation

Association of Science and Technology Centers · 11.3M views · 2011-10-16 · 1:56

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Overview

A short demo from Tel-Aviv University of a superconductor locked in a magnetic field, hovering and staying fixed in place. It was shown at the 2011 ASTC conference.

On Hacker News

Linked in superconductivity and levitation threads as the canonical quantum locking demo.

Discussed on HN; no positive recommendation is recorded in this export · HN mentions 2012–2023

Topics

Everyday physics & science demosMaterials science
Search by tags
superconductorflux pinningmagnetic levitationquantum locking

What people said

uyhgr · 2023-08 · Reference

Correct, the imperfections of the crystal allowing the flux pinning permits even a “hanging levitation”. Here is a timestamped video showing that: [VIDEO] If we develop methods of creating these superconductors with perfect crystal composition then there will only be the repulsion, allowing for levitation in a bowl shaped superconductor, but this “hanging levitation” would be impossible. Perhaps we will develop manufacturing techniques to induce specific imperfections into the material to ensure predictable flux pinning.

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trgern · 2023-07 · Reference

The video of “levitation” is one of the things that makes me, a complete ignoramus of the subject matter, skeptical. [LINK] All other instances of “quantum levitation” that I have seen has a “locked in” effect: [VIDEO] . Whereas the material in this video seems to bounce and warble in a way that appears to me more akin to standard static or magnetic repulsion. Hope I’m wrong.

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sxp · 2020-11 · Reference

The other interesting loophole is [LINK] which gives you levitating superconductors and (impractical) hovercars: [VIDEO]

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Sources

Video by Association of Science and Technology Centers, played through YouTube.

Data and selection notes

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