Observation of magnetic field lines in the vicinity of a superconductor with the naked eye
Abstract
This paper describes a new method of demonstrating superconductivity. A GdBaCuO high-temperature superconductor of 60 mm in diameter and 10 mm in height, a sintered NdFeB cubic magnet with an edge length of 100 mm and iron wires coated by coloured vinyl are used to visualize the magnetic field lines in the vicinity of a superconductor when it is placed in a magnetic field. The spatial distributions of iron wires make it easy to understand how the magnetism of superconductivity causes the levitation and suspension of conventional demonstrations. This paper is intended to be read especially by teachers of undergraduate courses and educators of science museums or science centres.
- Publication:
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European Journal of Physics
- Pub Date:
- January 2010
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0143-0807/31/1/020
- Bibcode:
- 2010EJPh...31..229S