Light-Powered Magnetic Levitation Could Create ‘New Class’ Of Solar Energy

[Purveyor]

By Stephen C. Webster
Friday, December 28, 2012

In a breakthrough that could one day revolutionize transportation and electricity generation, scientists at the University in Kanagawa in Japan demonstrated this month a disc that spins at over 200 rotations per minute when placed over a magnet in direct sunlight, saying the discovery could help create a wholly “new class” of solar energy.

Professor Jiro Abe and Dr. Masayuki Kobayashi presented their discovery in the December issue of Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Speaking a reporter with Phys.org, Abe said their research represents “the first time in the world” that humans have been able to achieve “real-time motion control” of intimate objects without individual parts of the machine coming into direct contact.

The study goes on to explain that it works because the light slightly changes the temperature of the graphite, which causes subtle fluctuations in the material’s “magnetic susceptibility.”

Video of the discovery published to YouTube earlier this month showed scientists moving a tiny disc over an array of small magnets by firing a laser at it. Additional footage also featured that same disc levitating over a single magnet, rapidly spinning in place when placed under direct sunlight.

“Because this technique is very simple and fundamental, it is expected to apply to various daily living techniques, such as transportation systems and amusement, as well as photo-actuators and light energy conversion systems,” Abe reportedly said.

Raw Story (http://s.tt/1xJYW)

[drm604]

1. It remains to be seen if this is anything other than a novelty.

Is there a way to extract useful energy from this without bringing it to a halt?

Even if there is, is this more efficient or cheaper than photovoltaic or solar-thermal?

[Purveyor]

3. I hoping that somebody who actually knows this stuff will check in. eom

[snot]

2. "intimate objects," heh heh.

[SharonAnn]

5. I chuckled, too. They probably meant "inanimate". But "intimate" is more fun.

[Uncle Joe]

6. Perhaps in this case "Intimate" could work as well?

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/intimate?s=t

6. of or relating to the essential part or nature of something; intrinsic.

[Uncle Joe]

4. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Purveyor.

[surrealAmerican]

7. Way cool.

It's an interesting phenominon whether they find an application for it or not.

[Thor_MN]

8. Crookes radiometer extended by magnetic levitation?

Not sure how this is going to be any more useful than a Crookes radiometer, but it is cool. Then again, if they get that intimate objects thing worked out...