Superconductor levitation kit FAQ

Quantum levitation is a magnet floating above (or hanging below) a YBCO superconductor cooled below 92 K. The superconductor pins magnetic flux, which locks the magnet in place — flux pinning, also called quantum locking. Learn more: quantum locking and Meissner effect or flux pinning?

They are closely related and often used interchangeably. Levitation describes the floating; quantum locking describes the fixed position the magnet is held in. See quantum locking.

YBCO (yttrium barium copper oxide) is a type-II, high-temperature superconductor with a critical temperature of about 92 K, which is why inexpensive liquid nitrogen is enough to cool it.

No — and be sceptical of anyone selling you one. YBCO is a high-temperature superconductor, a term of art meaning high relative to conventional superconductors that need liquid helium at 4 K. YBCO’s critical temperature is 92 K, or −181 °C. You reach that with liquid nitrogen at 77 K (−196 °C), which is inexpensive and available almost everywhere. That is the actual breakthrough: no helium, no cryostat, no specialist facility. See the liquid nitrogen guide.

Between three and fifteen minutes, depending on the kit. The Basic levitator sits at the lower end; the Extended Duration Levitators are engineered with heavier thermal insulation for long demonstrations. Re-cooling takes under a minute.

Yes, with basic precautions — it is non-toxic and non-flammable. You need cryogenic gloves, eye protection, a ventilated room, and a vacuum dewar rather than a sealed container; never use a sealed container. We supply written safety protocols and a risk-assessment template you can hand straight to a school safety officer. See the full guide and resources for teachers.

No. The Magnetic Train ($69+) and the DIY Maglev desktop ($69–$179) need no liquid nitrogen — see magnets. YBCO superconductor kits do need it. Not sure? Use Which kit? Want both? Get the Maglev Duo — save 10% ($124.20 for the train kit and desktop toy together).

No. Dry ice is about 195 K, far too warm to take YBCO below its 92 K critical temperature. See the liquid nitrogen guide.

Roughly 0.2–0.5 L for one demo, 0.5–1 L for a lesson, 2–3 L for a class of about 90 minutes, and 4–6 L for a science-fair day. Expect about $1–3 per litre. Details in the liquid nitrogen guide.

Measured experiments: vary the gap, magnet geometry, levitation duration, or track spacing and record the results. See the hoverboard science-fair project, the flux-pinning force method, and the Science Fair Superconductivity Kit ($139–$399).

Science Fair kits start from $139. The Magnetic Train needs no liquid nitrogen. For a measured-force project, the Force Experiment Kit is $899–$1,149. See Which kit? and choosing a superconductor kit.

YBCO Meissner, flux-pinning and maglev experiments. You supply about 0.5 L of liquid nitrogen plus protective equipment. Ships in 1–3 days; $139–$399; SKU 310. See the product page.

The Starter kit ($587–$855) is a complete classroom-style flux-pinning demo; the Science Fair kit is a lower-priced, configurable entry point. Both need liquid nitrogen.

Start with Which kit?. The Ultimate Classroom Kit is a multi-station classroom kit (see product for recommended class size), so students work in small groups instead of queueing. On a smaller budget, Science Fair kits from $139 suit small groups and put more hands on the physics than one expensive levitator.

Usually, when supervised and pre-approved, with a risk assessment (template available — see for teachers). If liquid nitrogen is refused, use a magnet-only project or show a video.

Yes — see for teachers and the Quantum Levitation booklet.

Not a person. Classroom thin films are demo-scale (about 100 g, per the booklet). See the booklet.

From welding-gas or university suppliers; bring a vented dewar. See the liquid nitrogen guide.

Yes. We accept POs, issue formal quotations and invoice net-30. W-8BEN-E, VAT and EIN documentation on request, with export paperwork for international institutions. Request a quote or see institutional orders.

Worldwide, and many items ship within one to three days. Superconductors travel warm and dry — there is no cryogenic shipping involved, since you supply the liquid nitrogen at your end.

They already are, in both undergraduate and graduate programmes. The Superconductivity Experiment Kit ($1,550–$1,710) includes a USB 4-point Tc setup that produces genuine resistance-versus-temperature data, so it functions as a quantitative laboratory exercise rather than only a demonstration. Setup guides, experiment protocols and technical documentation are included.