HIGH-SPEED ROTATION OF MAGNETS ON HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTING BEARINGS

Levitation and rotation of cylindrical rare-earth magnets on yttrium-barium-copper-oxide superconducting bearings has been sustained at speeds of up to 120 000 rpm with a surface speed of 40 m/s. The decay of the free rotation rate has been measured at both atmospheric pressure and a partial vacuum to 2.6 μm Hg. The decay measurements in vacuum indicate that the flux drag torques are constant and independent of speed. The magnetic shear stress on the rotor magnet is estimated to be 150 dyn/cm2. It is believed that drag torques on rotating magnets are related to asymmetry in the flux density pattern of the magnet.