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How Rotation Drives Magnetic Levitation

A detailed experimental analysis explains the forces by which a spinning magnet can cause another magnet to levitate in midair.

Magnetic levitation is common in floating trains and high-speed machinery, but two years ago, a new type of levitation was discovered that uses a rapidly rotating magnet to suspend a second magnet in the air. Researchers have now clarified that this phenomenon originates from slight tilts in the magnetic axes of the magnets relative to their rotational axes [1]. The research team’s experimental and theoretical work reveals surprises about how magnetic levitation works. The new technique could one day be used as a contact-free tool for manipulating objects.

If you bring together two toy magnets with their north poles facing each other, they will repel each other. You might be tempted to try and use that repulsion to counter the force of gravity by placing one magnet beneath the other. However, common experience shows that this balancing act is unstable.

In a first, LLNL researchers create birefringent all-glass metasurface

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers have adapted their novel metasurface process to create an all-glass metasurface with birefringence, or dual refraction, properties. Learn how this achievement could transform waveplate technology for high-power laser systems such as the National Ignition Facility:


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Chronic Pain And Digital Care: A Fresh Approach For Employers

With the opioid epidemic getting worse, it’s time for employers to recognize that the problem is far from distant—it’s impacting everyone, including their workforce. Costly treatment and disengaged employees are only a few of the ways opioid addictions may be impacting a company’s bottom line and culture. No one solution will fix the opioid epidemic, but digital care can be an easily accessible starting point. By adopting a digital solution, employers can provide their employees with the proper treatment they deserve, while maintaining a positive, healthy culture where employees can thrive.

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