-Joshy K Oommen

Quantum levitation is the ability of a superconductor to match the magnetic fields surrounding it perfectly. Alternative names for quantum levitation are Quantum Locking

Magnetic Locking

Magnetic Flux Locking

Quantum Magnetism

What is a Superconductor?

A superconductor is a material that, when cooled to a temperature below its critical temperature, its electrical resistivity goes to zero. Dutch physicist and Nobel Laureate Heike Kamerlingh Onnes discovered that when you cool the element mercury (Hg) in liquid helium to a temperature of -270°C (-454°F), it exhibits a phenomenon of zero electrical resistance, which he then called superconductivity.

What Does Quantum Levitation Do?

Because of the zero resistance properties of superconductors, we get an effect known as quantum levitation. This phenomenon creates a magnetic locking effect between the superconductor and the magnetic field, thus allowing the superconductor to levitate.

Why It Happens

-The Meissner Effect: When a superconductor reaches its critical temperature, all magnetic fields applied to it are excluded from the interior. In other words, the field will go around it, not through it. The Meissner Effect can also be explained mathematically with the London Equations.

Supercurrents: When a superconductor at its critical temperature is exposed to a magnetic field, currents are induced within it. These currents then induce an opposing magnetic field. Due to the lack of any resistivity, the currents can perfectly mirror the magnetic field applied to the superconductor.

The currents also adjust instantaneously with any changes in the field from things such as movement. Thus a floating piece of superconductor will stay in any position it is left in and will follow a magnetic track.

The Future

If a superconductor with a readily achievable critical temperature (ideally above room temperature) were found or if a system that could easily keep a superconductor at its critical temperature were invented.

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