Diamagnetically Stabilized Vertical Levitation

Today we show you a 10x10x10mm N52 neodym cube magnet which levitates and spins over a plate of pyrolytic graphite. This arrangement is called "Diamagnetically stabilized Levitation". The pyrolytic graphite is polished to near optic quality. By this the floating magnets mirror image can be seen on the pyrolytic graphite plate. Levitation height is about 2 mm. The big lifter magnet which is needed for levitation is not shown in these videos and images. After some time it seems that the magnet changes its direction of rotation but this is only an optical illusion.

 

Liquid oxygen attracted by levitating magnet spheres

In this video you can see two 8mm NdFeB N52 gold plated magnet spheres floating over a high temperature superconductor made of Yttrium-Barium-Copper-Oxide (YBCO). The superconductor was cooled down to -196°C with liquid nitrogen and is covered with ice and mist. To hold the magnet spheres absolutely upward an additional lifter magnet was used which is not visible in the images.
It can be observed that droplets of liquid oxygen, which is paramagnetic, are attracted by the magnet spheres and evaporate abruptly on the surface of the lower sphere. The liquid oxygen accumulated on the surface of the superconductor while experimenting and was not additionally added.
Furthermore you can see the mist vortexes which built up on the lower side of the magnet sphere. These vortexes consist mainly of water mist and evaporating nitrogen.
This experiment shows a complex combination of superconduction, paramagnetism, diamagnetism, magnetism, thermo-dynamics and fluid dynamics.