Magnetic Charge & Flight Stability
As the aspect ratio of a toroidally wound pole
section in a
Free Flying Magnetic Levitator falls below 1.0 the
winding
is significantly divided between magnetic charge
and
magnetic current. The lower the aspect
ratio(length/diameter)
the greater the charge. Magnetic charge follows the
trajectory
of the earth's magnetic field, while magnetic
current is
transverse or longitudinal across or with the
external magnetic
field.
In the Levitator Launch Vehicle the aspect ratio is
1.0 and the
winding is split between charge and current. The
currents
balance but the charges add and so the vehicle is
selfstabilized and automatically flies from pole to
pole along
the external field lines. In San Francisco the
suborbital
apogee is 10,000 miles. The bobbin is also
aeromechanically
selfstabilized. A loss of power efficiency is
compensated for
by simplified design and construction, and improved
safety.