Measurement of Gravitomagnetic and Acceleration Fields Around Rotating Superconductors

TL;DR

This study investigates the existence of a gravitomagnetic field around rotating superconductors, providing experimental evidence that suggests a possible new fundamental physical phenomenon related to gravity and superconductivity.

Contribution

The paper presents the first experimental measurements indicating a gravitomagnetic London moment near superconductors, aligning with theoretical predictions and expanding understanding of gravity in quantum materials.

Findings

Initial signs of gravitomagnetic fields within a factor of 2 of predictions

Experimental setup successfully measured small acceleration and gravitomagnetic fields

Discussion of potential error sources and experimental challenges

Abstract

It is well known that a rotating superconductor produces a magnetic field proportional to its angular velocity. The authors conjectured earlier, that in addition to this so-called London moment, also a large gravitomagnetic field should appear to explain an apparent mass increase of Niobium Cooper-pairs. A similar field is predicted from Einstein's general relativity theory and the presently observed amount of dark energy in the universe. An experimental facility was designed and built to measure small acceleration fields as well as gravitomagnetic fields in the vicinity of a fast rotating and accelerating superconductor in order to detect this so-called gravitomagnetic London moment. This paper summarizes the efforts and results that have been obtained so far. Measurements with Niobium superconductors indeed show first signs which appear to be within a factor of 2 of our theoretical prediction. Possible error sources as well as the experimental difficulties are reviewed and discussed. If the gravitomagnetic London moment indeed exists, acceleration fields could be produced in a laboratory environment.