Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Frequency Mixing Magnetic Detection Scanner for Imaging Magnetic Particles in Planar Samples
Published on: June 9, 2016
Separation of binary granular mixtures under vibration and differential magnetic levitation force
A T Catherall1, P López-Alcaraz, P Sánchez
1School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
The application of both a strong magnetic field and a magnetic field gradient to a diamagnetic or paramagnetic material can produce a vertical force that acts in concert with the force of gravity. We consider a binary granular mixture in which the two components have different magnetic susceptibilities and therefore experience different effective forces of gravity when subjected to an inhomogeneous magnetic field. Under vertical vibration, such a mixture may rapidly separate into regions almost pure in the two components. We investigate the conditions for this behavior, studying the speed and completeness of separation as a function of differential effective gravity and the frequency and amplitude of vibration. The influence of the cohesive magnetic dipole-dipole interactions on the separation process is also investigated. In our studies insight is gained through the use of a molecular dynamics simulation model.
Related Concept Videos
Centrifugation
Subcellular Fractionation
Differential Centrifugation
Differential centrifugation is...
Overview Of Cell Separation And Isolation
Capillary Electrophoresis: Applications
Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) separates ionic components based on their electrophoretic mobility. It has been used to separate proteins, amino acids,...
Mass Spectrometry: Complex Analysis
GC–MS is a powerful hyphenated method commonly used in forensics and environmental...

