Magnetic Levitation and Noncoalescence of Liquid Helium

Abstract

We describe experiments in which drops of liquid helium-4, as large as 2 cm in diameter, are magnetically levitated. We have found that, when two or more drops are levitated in the same magnetic trap, the drops often remain in a state of apparent contact without coalescing. It appears that this effect is caused by the slow evaporation of liquid from the drops.