Boaz Almog uses quantum physics to levitate and trap objects in midair. Call it "quantum levitation."
Why you should listen
In October 2011, Boaz Almog demonstrated how a superconducting disk can be trapped in a surrounding magnetic field to levitate above it, a phenomenon called “quantum levitation.” This demonstration, seemingly taken from a sci-fi movie, is the result of many years of R&D on high-quality superconductors. By using exceptional superconductors cooled in liquid nitrogen, Almog and his colleague Mishael Azoulay at the superconductivity group at Tel Aviv University (lead by Prof. Guy Deutscher) were able to demonstrate a quantum effect that, although well known to physicists worldwide, had never been seen and demonstrated in such a compelling way.
Experiment credits:
Prof. Guy Deutscher, Mishael Azoulay and Boaz Almog
High Tc Superconductivity Group
School of Physics and Astronomy
Tel Aviv University
Watch more footage from this demo >>
What others say
It looks like something out of a magic show, where the magician is able to defy gravity and float or levitate an object in midair with no apparent explanation.
Boaz Almog’s TED Talk
More news and ideas from Boaz Almog
Science
Comments we loved this year: The gift of additional information
December 24, 2012
TED Talks often get 100 or more comments — a mixed bag of kudos, critiques and questions. Looking back on the year, here are a few comments that wowed us. Do you know more about a topic than the speaker had time to share in their talk? Here’s a great example of how a knowledgeable […]
Continue readingScience
Quantum levitation in action: Raw footage from Boaz Almog’s TEDGlobal talk
June 30, 2012
Boaz Almog demonstrates “quantum locking” — which causes a small, supercooled superconductor to levitate above a magnetic track — in this amazing raw footage from TEDGlobal, shot by photographer James Duncan Davidson. Want to know when Boaz Almog’s full TEDTalk goes online? Sign up for an email notification >>
Continue readingScience
Quantum locking: Boaz Almog at TEDGlobal 2012
June 28, 2012
After rescuing his equipment from UK customs, where it had been stuck for several days, Boaz Almog take the stage to demonstrate his remarkable research. It uses a well-known phenomenon of superconductivity — a state of matter where the electrical resistance drops to zero. Normally, electrons moving through a conductor collide occasionally, losing energy to […]
Continue reading