Comments on: Quantum Levitation https://gregladen.com/blog/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/ Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:05:25 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.6 By: rob https://gregladen.com/blog/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509059 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:05:25 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509059 at Mac #11: the “locking” effect if magnetic flux tubes getting pinned by defects in the crystal. when the superconductor superconducts, external magnetic fields are expelled. mostly. some get pinned, and cause the leveitation effect. this effect can happen with thicker crystals too. the first one i saw in the 80’s was about 3/4″ diameter and 1/4″ thick. it could levitate and hang upside down from the pinned flux.

]]> By: Mac https://gregladen.com/blog/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509058 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:40:49 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509058 @ glen (#10)

To get the ‘locking’ effect they use a superconductor that is only 1 micron thick.

That means that most of the ‘puck’ can simply be thermal insulation – so even though most of the outer part of the puck will be approaching room temperature – but the inner section of 1 micron can still be nice and chilly.

That’s my guess anyway.

Mac

]]> By: glen https://gregladen.com/blog/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509057 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:32:44 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509057 The superconductor seems to stay superconducting for longer than I would expect. Anyone have info on the type or whether there are any other tricks to how they have kept it cool?

]]> By: Knightly https://gregladen.com/blog/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509056 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:00:40 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509056 Even if it’s fake, the technology they’re using to fake it seems pretty amazing itself.

I’ve heard some controversy over whether or not it’s actually “quantum,” but that’s kind of an afterthought as far as I’m concerned. If it works and it’s replicable, they can call it what they please, so long as I get my freaking hover car.

]]> By: Rich Wilson https://gregladen.com/blog/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509055 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:52:01 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509055 Catch this one?

http://www.ted.com/talks/aaron_o_connell_making_sense_of_a_visible_quantum_object.html

]]> By: rob https://gregladen.com/blog/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509054 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:22:44 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509054 i first saw this at a colloquium in the late 80’s when high Tc superconductors were first discovered. pretty cool. (ha!)

it’s been over 20 years, and there still is no good theory about how high Tc superconductors work. then again, it took over 40 years before BCS theory described ordinary superconductivity.

i still want a jetpack.

]]> By: Greg Laden https://gregladen.com/blog/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509053 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:19:51 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509053 Mu: Yeah, that’s because, just for fun, I wrote this post using those new extra-fast neutrinos.

]]> By: Mu https://gregladen.com/blog/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509052 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:06:19 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509052 The most amazing part:

Quantum Levitation

Posted on: October 20, 2011 10:05 AM, by Greg Laden

and we’re commenting on the 19th. Take that, Einstein.

]]> By: Chris P https://gregladen.com/blog/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509051 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:16:18 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509051 Good, quick explanation of what’s going on here: http://jtotheizzoe.tumblr.com/post/11590151866/if-this-video-doesnt-make-your-jaw-drop-you

Flux tubes!

]]> By: Greg Laden https://gregladen.com/blog/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509050 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 04:45:25 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2011/10/19/quantum-levitation/#comment-509050 I checked with Jim Kakalios on this just now (we were at an event) and this is a quantum phenomenon, according to him. Personally, I’m still thinking its fake, but what do I know?

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