Quantum levitation

[Moontanman]

You tube demonstration of quantum levitation...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyOtIsnG71U

[Delta1212]

Usually, when the word 'quantum' is put in front of a word, the effect it describes is not quite as cool as the name would imply (See, e.g., quantum teleportation).

 

This is not one of those cases.

[krash661]

http://www.quantumlevitation.com/

 

there's more info here.

[Delbert]

It's not levitation for the simple reason it was turned up side down and it remained in the same relative place to the magnet(s). But rather it is 'locked' in space relative to the magnets whereby each quantum of magnetic field is held by a quantum 'tube' of circulating supercurrent.

 

I believe there is a name for this phenomenon.

[Klaynos]

The default trick on undergraduate interview days. Always best when you get the magnet spinning.

[Greg H.]

It's not levitation for the simple reason it was turned up side down and it remained in the same relative place to the magnet(s). But rather it is 'locked' in space relative to the magnets whereby each quantum of magnetic field is held by a quantum 'tube' of circulating supercurrent.

 

I believe there is a name for this phenomenon.

The video in krash's link refers to it as Quantum Locking. Whatever you call it, it's interesting.