Magnetic Levitation Stabilized by Streaming Fluid Flows

Fairhurst, D.?J.; Swift, M.?R.; Hill, R.?J.?A.; Atkinson, P.?S.; Baldwin, K.?A.; Baldwin, K.A.; de Fouchier, J.-B.; Atkinson, P.S.; Hill, R.J.A.; Swift, M.R.; Fairhurst, D.J.

Abstract

We demonstrate that the ubiquitous laboratory magnetic stirrer provides a simple passive method of magnetic levitation, in which the so-called ‘flea’ levitates indefinitely. We study the onset of levitation and quantify the flea’s motion (a combination of vertical oscillation, spinning and “waggling”), finding excellent agreement with a mechanical analytical model. The waggling motion drives recirculating flow, producing a centripetal reaction force that stabilises the flea. Our findings have implications for the locomotion of artificial swimmers, for the development of bidirectional microfluidic pumps and provide an alternative to sophisticated commercial levitators.

Citation

Fairhurst, D., Swift, M., Hill, R., Atkinson, P., Baldwin, K., Baldwin, K., …Fairhurst, D. (2018). Magnetic Levitation Stabilized by Streaming Fluid Flows. Physical Review Letters, 121(6), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.121.064502

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 20, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Aug 8, 2018
• Publication Date: Aug 8, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jun 22, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 8, 2018
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Print ISSN: 0031-9007
• Electronic ISSN: 1079-7114
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 121
• Issue: 6
• Article Number: 064502
• Pages: 1-5
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.121.064502
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/939997
• Publisher URL: https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.064502