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Train speed of 1000 km/hr possible: Israeli physicist
Time is not far off when trains will run over the tracks at a speed of over 1,000 kilometres per hour with the laws of quantum physics or particularly due to quantum levitation or locking. In the field of medical services, the MRI machines will become cheap. Also in next five years, the power loss during transmission of electricity through copper wires will become zero. At present a huge percentage of power goes into line loss during transmission. These facts were shared by Boaz Almog, quantum physicists from School of Physics and Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, Israel exclusively with TOI during his visit to IIT-Kanpur on Thursday.
Almog stated how quantum levitation or quantum locking can make it possible for trains to run at very high speed. "It may take some 10-15 years for this to happen but this is very much possible with the application of laws of quantum physics or to be more precise due to quantum levitation," he said. The physicist also added that when the trains will run at such a high speed, the fuel consumption will go down and transportation will become cheaper.
He further said that enormous power transfer is not possible today but in next five years this will become possible with zero power loss. "Superconductors conduct electricity without dissipation. Superconductors on sapphire fibres carry 40 times more electricity than copper," he said.
Almog uses quantum physics to levitate and trap objects in midair. In October 2011, he demonstrated how a superconducting disk can be trapped in a surrounding magnetic field to levitate above it, a phenomenon called 'quantum levitation'. This demonstration, seemingly taken from a sci-fi movie, is the result of many years of research and development on high-quality superconductors. By using exceptional superconductors cooled in liquid nitrogen, Almog and his colleague Mishael Azoulay at the superconductivity group at Tel Aviv University (lead by Guy Deutscher) were able to demonstrate a quantum effect that, although known to physicists, had never been seen and demonstrated in such a way earlier.
He has also demonstrated how a thin 3-inch disk can levitate something 70,000 times its weight. Almog showed how a phenomenon known as quantum locking allows a superconductor disk to float over a magnetic rail completely frictionlessly and with zero energy loss.
Boaz demonstrated where he made a superconductor disk float in the air over a high tensile magnetic rail or a track. When asked how is this possible, he replied that till the time the superconductor is cool under the affect of liquid nitrogen, the superconductor will remain locked in air. "The superconductor locks the magnetic influx lines inside. The locking prevents the disc from moving in space. It therefore, remains in the midair," said the quantum physicist.
During the demonstration, the Israeli scientist showed that he wrapped the superconductor in the aluminium foil and dipped it in the liquid nitrogen. A few minutes later, when the superconductor became extremely cool, he released it on a magnetic belt or a track. The superconductor started swinging in the air above the magnetic belt. It also moved in circular motion on a small track which cleared the concept as to how the actual train will be able to run over the tracks without touching it in near future.
Superconductors are made of a ceramic compound of rare earth metal, barium, copper and oxygen and its transition temperature is -196 degrees. The actual weight of a superconductor is only half micron whose thickness is even less than human hair. A superconductor can levitate around 70,000 times its own weight.
Almog said that he will educate and teach students of IIT-K about quantum levitation and demonstrate before them, a superconductor floating in the air above the magnetic belt. Almog will hold a demonstration on quantum levitation at the 19th edition of Techkriti.
Train speed of 1000 km/hr possible: Israeli physicist - The Times of India
