Work

Stable levitation of a magnet over a pair of counter-rotating cylinders: The Alcon levitator

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The Alcon levitator is an experimental setup that demonstrates the levitation of a bar magnet above two counter-rotating metal cylinders. Stable levitation is achieved only above a critical angular velocity—about 9000 rpm in our setup. The precise physical mechanism behind this stability remains under investigation. In this work, we combine theoretical analysis and numerical simulations to examine the mechanism, which originates from the interplay between lift and braking forces acting on the magnet and their dependence on the magnetic Reynolds number, i.e., the angular velocity of the cylinders.

Source: Journal of Applied Physics

DOI: 10.1063/5.0275041

Authors: Alberto T. Pérez, Pablo García-Sánchez

Institution: Universidad de Sevilla

Language: English

Topic: Magnetic Bearings and Levitation Dynamics

Subfield: Control and Systems Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,500

Funders: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, European Regional Development Fund, Agencia Estatal de Investigación