​A cube of magnetic material levitates above a superconductor. The field of the magnet induces currents in the superconductor that generate an equal and opposite field, exactly balancing the gravitational force on the cube.
​
Image courtesy Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Physics and Fascination

Levitation and Superconductivity
​

We in the process world see the world as enchanted. Here “enchantment” can mean different things.

On the one hand it can mean that the things of the observable world (atoms, molecules, living cells, plants, animals, stars, galaxies) have value in their own right independent of human projection, and that there is something like subjectivity or experience going all the way down into the depths of matter and out into the far reaches of outer space. This is pan-experientialism, often described as an "organic" view of the universe.

Given this meaning of enchantment, mechanistically minded scientists do not see the world as enchanted.  They have their doubts about value and subjectivity in the observable world. If asked, they often deflect the question of subjectivity and value, deeming it the province of poets, theologians, and metaphysicians, not scientists.

On the other hand, “enchantment” can mean that the world is beautiful or fascinating: marvelous in its complexity, its patterns, and its capacity to surprise us. Here fascination is relational; it happens in the minds of observers and participants as they interact with the world around them. The fascination is a response to what is fascinating.

Most scientists see the world as enchanted in this second, aesthetic sense. For them the world is not simply something to be used or mastered for technological and economic reasons, it is something that elicits wonder and awe. It is beautiful, and the more we understand it, the more beautiful it becomes. There is no conflict between mechanism and enchantment.

Indeed, understood in this second sense, science is itself a journey in beauty. Science seeks to understand the beauty of a world that is more than us and that has properties we might not expect. In the understanding itself there is a sense of awe, wonder, and appreciation. In the spiritual alphabet recommended by process philosophy, "B" is for beauty. "Q" is for questing, and "W" is for wonder. See Process and Spirituality offered by the Cobb Institute. Science is a source of all three forms of spirituality. Its "questing" is both intellectual and aesthetic: a journey in beauty.

In any case, these two meanings of enchantment, one philosophical and one aesthetic, are not mutually exclusive. It is important to emphasize, however, that science is a journey in beauty even for the mechanistically minded.

Two of the many forms of enchantment evoked by physics today are explorations of superconductivity and levitation. The purpose of the remainder of this page is to introduce non-scientists to some of what they are discovering, so that we, too, might share in the surprise. 

- Jay McDaniel


​

Superconductivity 

A scholarly discussion from BBC

​

​Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the discovery made in 1911 by the Dutch physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes (1853-1926). He came to call it Superconductivity and it is a set of physical properties that nobody predicted and that none, since, have fully explained. When he lowered the temperature of mercury close to absolute zero and ran an electrical current through it, Kamerlingh Onnes found not that it had low resistance but that it had no resistance. Later, in addition, it was noticed that a superconductor expels its magnetic field. In the century or more that has followed, superconductors have already been used to make MRI scanners and to speed particles through the Large Hadron Collider and they may perhaps bring nuclear fusion a little closer (a step that could be world changing).

The image above is from a photograph taken by Stephen Blundell of a piece of superconductor levitating above a magnet.

Featuring

Nigel Hussey
Professor of Experimental Condensed Matter Physics at the University of Bristol and Radbout University

Suchitra Sebastian
Professor of Physics at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge
​
Stephen Blundell
Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford and Fellow of Mansfield College

What is Levitation?
Why is it Fascinating?
​

Levitation is the physical phenomenon of an object or substance being lifted or suspended in mid-air without any visible support. This can occur through a variety of mechanisms, including magnetic, acoustic, and electrostatic forces. Levitation is a rare and unusual phenomenon, and it has captured the imagination of scientists, engineers, and the public for centuries.

Levitation has practical applications in fields such as transportation, materials science, and medical imaging. For example, magnetic levitation (maglev) trains use magnetic fields to levitate above their tracks, reducing friction and increasing speed. Acoustic levitation is used in some types of drug development and materials science research to suspend small particles in mid-air for analysis. Levitation is also used in some medical imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which uses strong magnetic fields to levitate and align the hydrogen atoms in the body for imaging.
​
Overall, levitation is a fascinating and useful phenomenon with important applications in science and technology. It also inspires wonder and curiosity, encouraging us to explore the limits of what is possible in the physical world.

​- chatGPT

What is Superconductivity?
​

Superconductivity is a phenomenon where certain materials exhibit zero electrical resistance and the complete expulsion of magnetic fields at extremely low temperatures. This means that electric current can flow through a superconductor without any loss of energy, which has numerous practical applications in fields such as energy, transportation, and medical imaging.

Superconductivity was first discovered in 1911 by Dutch physicist Heike Kamerlingh Onnes, who observed that the electrical resistance of mercury dropped to zero at temperatures near absolute zero (-273.15 degrees Celsius or -459.67 degrees Fahrenheit). Since then, numerous materials have been found to exhibit superconductivity, including certain metals, alloys, and ceramics.
​
However, achieving superconductivity usually requires extremely low temperatures, typically below -200 degrees Celsius (-328 degrees Fahrenheit), which presents a significant challenge for practical applications. Researchers are still working to develop materials that exhibit superconductivity at higher temperatures, which would make them more feasible for everyday use.

​- chatGPT

Can superconductivity
explain levitation?
​

Yes, superconductivity can explain levitation in certain cases. When a superconductor is placed in a magnetic field, it can become "locked" in place due to the phenomenon known as the Meissner effect. The Meissner effect occurs when a superconductor expels all magnetic fields from its interior, causing the magnetic field lines to curve around the outside of the material. This creates a repulsive force between the superconductor and the magnetic field, which can cause the superconductor to levitate above a magnet or a magnet to levitate above a superconductor.

This type of levitation is known as diamagnetic levitation, and it is a common demonstration of the Meissner effect and superconductivity. Diamagnetic levitation can also occur with non-superconducting materials, but the levitation effect is much weaker and only occurs at extremely low temperatures.
​
In addition to diamagnetic levitation, there are other types of levitation that can be achieved using superconductivity, such as flux pinning and quantum levitation. These phenomena involve trapping or stabilizing magnetic fields within the superconductor, which can cause it to levitate or hover in place above a magnet or magnetic track. These types of levitation have potential applications in transportation, energy, and other fields.

​- chatGPT

Videos
​

Addendum
​
A final word from chatGPT
​

I asked chatGPT what he/she/it thought of the proposal I make above:
​

As an AI language model, I do not have personal beliefs or biases, but I can explain the different perspectives on the concept of "enchantment" as described in the text.

The first meaning of enchantment refers to the idea that there is inherent value and subjectivity in the observable world, even at the level of matter. This view is often associated with philosophical or spiritual traditions that see the world as interconnected and imbued with meaning or consciousness. It contrasts with a purely mechanistic or materialistic view of the world, which sees everything as reducible to physical interactions and devoid of any intrinsic value or purpose.

The second meaning of enchantment is more related to aesthetic or emotional experiences of the world. It emphasizes the beauty, complexity, and unpredictability of natural phenomena, which can inspire wonder and curiosity in people. This view is not incompatible with scientific inquiry, as many scientists find their work motivated by a sense of awe and fascination with the natural world.
​
Both meanings of enchantment highlight different aspects of our relationship with the world, and they can coexist in different degrees depending on one's worldview and values.