Superconductor on Magnetic Rails

Superconductor on Magnetic Rails

When a superconductor enters the field of a permanent magnet, a current is induced to compensate the internal field and the magnet is repelled. In that way a superconductor can float over a magnet.

When the field is increased, for instance by pressing the superconductor a little into the field, some flux lines will enter the superconductor at impurities and it is then held pinned at a certain distance from the magnet.

When the field is homogenous in one direction, the superconductor is guided on a magnetic rail. This is tried out with a piece of YBCO yttrium barium copper oxide, a superconductor that becomes superconductive at 93K, a temperature that can be reached with cooling by liquid nitrogen (ln2) boiling at 77K. To stop the superconductor at the end of the rail, the field is made inhomogeneous at the end by turning the magnets.

A superconductor does not hold its temperature for long just by its thermal capacity and with fading conductivity it slowly sinks down to the rails. To make it float longer, a housing out of a tea candle shell is formed around it and some drops of liquid nitrogen are added.

The alternative to pinning the superconductor to the rails by pushing it in the superconductive state, is to adjust it in a short distance from the rails and to cool it below its transition temperature inside the magnetic field. When the superconductor is taken out from the field and pushed sideways over the tracks a periodic snapping to the rails can be observed.

With this setup we have already a short maglev vehicle on a track, which also exhausts steam from boiling nitrogen. One could think about using the exhaust for propulsion, but just with care to avoid any risk from the really high pressure of 200 atmospheres that can be built up with nitrogen.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Superconductor
• YBCO
• liquid
• Nirtogen
• ln2
• magnet
• maglev
• levitation
• pinning
• track
• physics
• experiment

[massourigangsta]

quite nice!

[DwayneLeroice]

Many people talk about this being the future of transportation. I along with many people believe it should. However, we need to find a way to remove the use of liquid nitrogen (extreme safety reasons) and reduce the cost. That block of material by my guess costed over $400. Imagine the amount equivalent to lift an entire car or train. If we remove or heavily reduce these problems...then.. we shall have the future we've been dreaming. Inbox me for more info anyone.

[EpicPigChops]

the future of transport

[LeninRajendraSingh]

if i where you i wouldn't touch let my hand come near liquid nitrogen unless i want my finders to be kept in the showcase! :)

[iDriveUCrazy17]

wow..& when I was 7, I already knew about future transportation being like this..with some kind of magnetic pull, so that there are no crashes, & no stopping, everything will be controlled by computer to time perfectly with everyone .

[EasternCalifornia]

Superconducting trains filled with Liquid nitrogen

you just solved America's transportation problems

[joviczarko]

Can you make a longer rail? I think it would be fun. And can you make some proper model of an levitating object, with some polystiren isolation and some aero dynamic look. Candle cup is not inspiring so much... Also... in that "car" put a little tank, so it can hold more nitro... btw.. it is a great invention!