Study of a five-electrode quadrupole levitation system. II. Experimental results

For pt.I see ibid., vol.138, no.6, p.320-8 (1991). Stable levitation of nonconductive liquid particles up to 1 mm is demonstrated on a microcomputer-controlled five-electrode quadrupole levitation system. Charged liquid particles for the levitation use are obtained by an electrostatic spraying process from the tip of a capillary inside the central bottom electrode. A CCTV camera is used to record the illuminated particles to give a picture of the particles on the monitor screen for the purpose of viewing, recording and digitising. Working liquids can be doped with a solvents of varying concentrations to give various conductivities with little change to their viscosity. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical and numerical values. Design consideration for a further complex system are discussed.