October 25, 2011

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Great Scott! Levitating superconductors and the infamous hoverboard

By David Wogan

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This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have posted an amazing YouTube video about the physics of superconductivity, and in particular, phenomena called "quantum trapping" and "quantum levitation".

In the video, we see a ceramic disk levitating atop a magnetic surface. The ceramic disk is cooled down to below -185C, where it becomes a superconductor, and by balancing disturbances in the magnetic fields, the disk's orientation can be locked into position on two axes allowing it to coast around a surface at an angle.

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It's not hard to imagine using technology like this to develop a new generation of high-speed trains; for use in manufacturing applications where traditional bearings or bushings might not suffice; tracking the sun in a PV systems; or as an array of sensors in a chemical processing plant. Of course, cooling ceramic down to -185C doesn't come for free and requires energy.

For those of us who grew up in the 80s, the dream of having the ultimate devices in transportation - Marty McFly's hoverboard or Luke Skywalker's landspeeder - might be a little closer to reality. Or at least a more efficient manufacturing process.

You can learn more about the superconductivity research group at astc.org and their website.

David Wogan is an engineer and policy researcher who writes about energy, technology, and policy.

David's academic and professional background includes a unique blend of technology and policy in the field of energy systems. Most recently, David worked at Austin Energy, a Texas municipal utility, implementing a Department of Energy stimulus grant related to energy efficiency. Previously, David was a member of the Energy & Climate Change team at the White House Council on Environmental Quality for the Obama Administration.

David holds two Master's degrees from The University of Texas at Austin in Mechanical Engineering and Public Affairs. While at UT, David was a researcher in the Webber Energy Group, where his research focused on advanced biofuel production to offset petroleum use in the transportation sector. David holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin, where he researched nuclear non-proliferation measurement technology.

David is a 2013 Aspen Institute Journalism Scholar, joining a select group of journalists from Slate, ABC News, and The New York Times.

David lives in Austin, Texas. Follow along on Twitter or email him at david.wogan@me.com.

More by David Wogan

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