Magnetic levitation stabilized by streaming fluid flows
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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
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American Physical Society
2018
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| Online Access: | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/52551/ |
| _version_ | 1848798752031113216 |
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| author | Baldwin, K.A. de Fouchier, J.-B. Atkinson, P.S. Hill, R.J.A. Swift, M.R. Fairhurst, D.J. |
| author_facet | Baldwin, K.A. de Fouchier, J.-B. Atkinson, P.S. Hill, R.J.A. Swift, M.R. Fairhurst, D.J. |
| author_sort | Baldwin, K.A. |
| building | Nottingham Research Data Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:24:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | nottingham-52551 |
| institution | University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T20:24:45Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | American Physical Society |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | nottingham-525512020-05-04T19:41:49Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/52551/ Magnetic levitation stabilized by streaming fluid flows Baldwin, K.A. de Fouchier, J.-B. Atkinson, P.S. Hill, R.J.A. Swift, M.R. Fairhurst, D.J. 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. American Physical Society 2018-08-08 Article PeerReviewed Baldwin, K.A., de Fouchier, J.-B., Atkinson, P.S., Hill, R.J.A., Swift, M.R. and Fairhurst, D.J. (2018) Magnetic levitation stabilized by streaming fluid flows. Physical Review Letters, 121 (6). 064502. ISSN 1079-7114 https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.064502 doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.064502 doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.064502 |
| spellingShingle | Baldwin, K.A. de Fouchier, J.-B. Atkinson, P.S. Hill, R.J.A. Swift, M.R. Fairhurst, D.J. Magnetic levitation stabilized by streaming fluid flows |
| title | Magnetic levitation stabilized by streaming fluid flows |
| title_full | Magnetic levitation stabilized by streaming fluid flows |
| title_fullStr | Magnetic levitation stabilized by streaming fluid flows |
| title_full_unstemmed | Magnetic levitation stabilized by streaming fluid flows |
| title_short | Magnetic levitation stabilized by streaming fluid flows |
| title_sort | magnetic levitation stabilized by streaming fluid flows |
| url | https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/52551/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/52551/ https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/52551/ |