Record-breaking, fast-spinning magnet could help uncover new physics
A magnet barely wider than a human hair is one of the fastest spinning objects ever and could be useful for both fundamental physics experiments and in quantum technology
In a breakthrough that could revolutionize physics research, scientists have created a magnet that spins at an unprecedented rate while being levitated within a superconductor. This tiny magnet, measuring just 30 micrometres wide - comparable to a fine human hair - levitates due to the Meissner effect, a phenomenon where superconductors repel magnetic fields.
Researchers from the Agency for Science Technology and Research in Singapore cooled the setup to near absolute zero using liquid helium, allowing the lead container and the levitating magnet to float without touching. The spinning magnet reached a mind-boggling 138 million revolutions per minute, a speed that would take the Earth over 17 days to lose half its rotational speed.
The levitating rotor's stability and lack of friction make it an ideal sensor, with potential applications in quantum computing and detecting magnetic fields. Moreover, its sensitivity to its surroundings could be used to study dark matter particles and gravitational waves. The ultra-low temperatures involved also enable exploration of quantum mechanics and its interaction with gravity at micrometre scales.
Written by urgent.news from New Scientist's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
