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Can Superconductors Block Gravitational Fields?
jswitte writes "Raymond Chiao, of the University of California at Berkel, believes that superconductors can convert electromagnetic radiation into gravitational radiation. His full paper can be found here. His theory is based on the idea that superconductors might be able to block the so-called 'gravitomagnetic' field just as they block the electomagnetic field in the famous Meissner effect allowing superconductors to levitate in magnetic fields. He claims that when he 'adds the gravitomagnetic field to the standard quantum equations for superconductivity, he confirms not only the gravitational Meissner-like effect but also a coupling between the two breeds of magnetic field. An ordinary magnetic field sets electrons in motion near the surface of a superconductor. Those electrons carry mass, and so their motion generates a gravitomagnetic field.'"
-Matt
Methinks you mean Matthew.
What else weighs that same as a duck?
Do not fold, spindle or mutilate.
Chiao: And who do you love now?
Geeks: Hoverbikes!
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PGP Key ID 0xCB8FF658
Time to start getting my skills up so I can enter the F-Zero or Wipeout leagues. This innovation will bring about nothing but high speed, heavily armed hover craft racing.
Looks can be deceiving. Or CAN they?
Bread!
Apples!
Very small rocks
Cider
Mud
Churches!
Lead Lead!
A Duck!
I want my zero-G sauna, dammit
Uh dude, can you get a velco towel like the rest of us? It's doing that thing again.
-- That which does not kill us has made its last mistake.
[Nitrogen] is cheap and easy to acquire as far as gasses go.
I have some nitrogen for sale, if you'd like. Fair warning, though: it's a little contaminated. I think it's only about 75%-80% pure.
Throw 'er into the pond!
You can never put too much water in a nuclear reactor.
I've just finished my own version of the experiment.
I took a tin pie tray and stuck it in the freezer for a couple of hours.
Then I rummaged through the attic and found that old turntable that used to scratch all my Barry Manilow LPs back in the '70s.
After running an extension lead from the socket on the kitchen bench over to the freezer, I stuck the plate on the turntable, set it to 78RPMs and let her rip.
The inital results were somewhat disappointing. Several spiders and a rodent that was either a very large mouse or a small rat ran out the back of the turntable and disappeared into a bag of frozen mince -- but the pie tray didn't lift up an inch.
Not to be discouraged, I figured that perhaps the reduced gravitational field only appeared above the pie tray -- so I grabbed the cat (which just happened to be passing by at the time) and pressed its warm little bottom onto the frozen pie tray.
I guess it was a little cold for him because he didn't half get excited -- or maybe I should have taken that spindle out of the center of the turntable first -- oh well.
Anyway, after a bit of hissing, growling and some bleeding (my blood not his), the cat eventually settled down enough for me to release him.
He sat their with a glazed look in his eyes and once again I flicked the switch to 78 RPMs.
Horray -- Success!
The cat lept several feet into the air, schrieking, hissing, wailing and spinning wildly at what I figured was probably 78RPMs.
But alas, the effect was short lived.
No sooner had this levitated feline lifted into the air than he crashed back down onto the rotating pie tray.
Ah, what the hell -- I slammed down the freezer lid and sat down in front of the TV with a beer.
I'll go back later and see whether he's settled down. Maybe tomorrow.
Anyway -- it looks as if there is some effect there but measuring it requires the use of protective garments and probably a more cooperative cat.
Now there's some guy called Schrodinger at the door asking whether the cat in my freezer is dead but telling me not to open the lid.
What the hell's going on there I wonder?
Witches have been using gravitomagic for years ... to power their broomsticks ... which is old (witches) hat.
:-)
Who are you sir, who are so wise in the ways of science?
That's right!
Fuck the Hypothesis!
The Scientific Method is for losers with too much time on thier hands!
What is that saying... copy one person and it's called plagarism.. copy 30 and it's called research.
This new learning amazes me... explain again how sheep's bladders may be employed to prevent earthquakes...
rofl
I had a friend once, too.
It's not rocket science.
Of course not.
It's quantum mechanics.
Duh.
Hermetic? Don't think he'd last very long in an air-tight container.