At the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) in Japan, there is a team of scientists who have one goal. It is directed by Professor Jason Twamley. They managed to levitate a fragment of graphite over a set of magnets. He was in a state of almost absolute weightlessness. Are we close to manufacturing levitating materials for different uses?
The advance was presented in an article in the journal Applied Physics Letters. Demonstrates the potential of magnetic levitation. It would be a new generation of highly sensitive sensors. They would be applied in both science and the consumer market, promising measurements with unmatched precision and efficiency.

like trains
The material in question, graphite, is diamagnetic, that is, it repels magnetic fields. By positioning it on a suitable ferromagnetic substrate, a levitation platform is created. It operates without the need for connection to its environment. It is similar to magnetic levitation trains that use superconducting magnets to generate a strong magnetic field.
There is a challenge: reducing the kinetic energy on oscillating platforms. As mentioned in the official statement, reducing it not only improves the sensitivity of the sensor. It also allows exploring the quantum regime for precision measurements.
Thus, in their search for solutions, researchers developed an innovative material from graphite. Through a chemical modification, they managed to convert graphite into an electrical insulator. It is a transformation that prevents the loss of energy and facilitates the levitation of the material in a vacuum.

Future applications
The experiment involved continuous monitoring of the movement of the platform. «Heat generates movement. But with real-time monitoring and corrections, we can cool the system effectively,” says Twamley. “The feedback adjusts the damping rate of the system,” they add.
This precise control over the platform has the potential to answer fundamental questions in quantum physics. You can determine the role of gravity within this framework. And it could also lead to the development of more sensitive atomic gravimeters than the current ones. The team continues to work to eliminate external disturbances and improve their system. Time will tell if we are close to manufacturing levitating materials. And the commercial uses that this could have.
For example, Marty McFly’s skateboard from the movie Back to the Future. Why not dream about that in the near future?