Open AccessNoncontact rotation, levitation, and acceleration of flowing liquid metal wires
Author(s) -
Yahua He,
Jianbo Tang,
Kourosh KalantarZadeh,
Michael D. Dickey,
Xiaolin Wang
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2117535119
Subject(s) - levitation , streams , lorentz force , mechanics , magnetic levitation , rotation (mathematics) , magnetic field , liquid metal , materials science , current (fluid) , spring (device) , surface tension , physics , magnet , mechanical engineering , computer science , composite material , thermodynamics , engineering , computer network , quantum mechanics , artificial intelligence
Significance Streams of fluids, particulates, and other flowing media are difficult to control after they have left a nozzle. Here, we present the noncontact manipulation of a free-flowing stream of liquid metal. Such streams form by electrochemically lowering the interfacial tension. The electrochemical reactions make the streams into soft current–carrying conductors presenting minimal resistance to manipulation via the Lorentz force in the magnetic field. Meanwhile, the movement of the stream induces a secondary force arising from Lenz’s law that causes the manipulated streams to levitate in unique shapes. This work, which exploits these forces in a visually stunning manner, enables shaping of fluids in a noncontact manner.