Suspended by means of a laser beam micrometer glycerin drops begin to move in orbits, which in form resemble the trajectory of the balls of the juggler. By this unexpected discovery physics came from Germany and Sweden, which are not only unable to explain this phenomenon, but also to build a visual model. It can help to look at the motion of drops and we can contact you.

For suspension of particles in the air, scientists have been focusing a laser beam power of about one watt, and to compensate for the force of gravity directed the beam upward. Then, the charged drops of liquid scattered over the laser: they are gradually settled by the action of gravity, after which some drops were the focus of the beam and began to “levitate”. To track the trajectory of particles, scientists were able with the help of backlight units with the led. The observation is carried out with a microscope long range.

Then the movement was recorded with a camera (frame rate — 45 000 per second), and now this phenomenon can view and we.

Why is there such a phenomenon? When one of the drops is under another, it weakens the intensity of the electromagnetic field of the beam. Gravity begins to act on the top drop, and she plummeted down. At the same time she is repelled from the beam centre, due to differences in light intensity below the lower limit at its center. As soon as the drops are at the same height, the one closer to the center, and begins to climb, and the second, conversely, is attracted to the center of the beam (gradient force). The cycle repeats, and it’s starting to look like juggling balls.

The hypothesis that the acceleration of small particles by light was made by Johannes Kepler, who suggested that the tails of comets point away from the Sun due to the fact that they repel the rays of the star. Of course, the practical benefits of such an experiment no, but to experiment with light is at least one reason — to make a small particle accelerator. In addition, the study of light and particles allowed to simulate the radiation of a black hole.

What do you think, were justified in conducting such experiments? Write in our Telegram chat.