Transverse force in magnetic levitation with finite width sheet guideways

In the repulsive magnetic levitation of a superconducting magnet by a finite width strip guideway, the transverse force is destablizing in that it acts in a direction to deflect the magnet off the guideway. The theoretical calculation of this transverse force is accomplished in this paper and its predictions are shown to correlate with published experimental data. A search for a laterally-stable magnet configuration has turned up a successful design based on paired magnets. The force characterisitcs of this configuration shows that it has possible applications in high speed guided ground transport. A physical explanation is given for its transverse stabilizing property.