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Making water levitate

Author

Listed:
  • Yasuhiro Ikezoe

    (University of Tokyo)

  • Noriyuki Hirota

    (University of Tokyo
    Japan Science and Technology Corporation)

  • Jun Nakagawa

    (TDK Co., Ltd, Materials Research Center)

  • Koichi Kitazawa

    (University of Tokyo
    Japan Science and Technology Corporation)

Abstract

The levitation in air of water, other diamagnetic substances1 and even living organisms2 was recently achieved by using the extremely strong magnetic field provided by a Bitter-type hybrid magnet. We too have succeeded in levitating water, but in the lower fields of an ordinary 10 T superconducting magnet. To achieve this we make use of gravitational and magnetically induced buoyancy forces in the host paramagnetic atmosphere (pressurized air or oxygen), rather than simply the diamagnetic force on the levitating object, to balance the gravitational force. This permits the magnetic levitation in air of paramagnetic as well as diamagnetic substances, which was widely believed to be impossible3. The physics underlying this effect is essentially the same as that of magnetohydrostatic ore separation, where a ferromagnetic fluid is used4. Because our process can levitate subtances at a stable position in an atmosphere, we have named it ‘magneto-Archimedes levitation’.

Suggested Citation

  • Yasuhiro Ikezoe & Noriyuki Hirota & Jun Nakagawa & Koichi Kitazawa, 1998. "Making water levitate," Nature, Nature, vol. 393(6687), pages 749-750, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:393:y:1998:i:6687:d:10.1038_31619
    DOI: 10.1038/31619
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    Cited by:

    1. Syou MAKI & Shigeru KURODA & Seiji FUJIWARA & Seiichi TANAKA & Eka ERZALIA & Mizuki KATO & Katsumasa HIGO & Toshiaki ARATA & Toshiyuki NAKAGAKI, 2020. "Thermal Conductivity and Thermal Diffusivity of Slime Mold (Physarum Polycephalum)," Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, Biomedical Research Network+, LLC, vol. 31(3), pages 24140-24145, October.

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