Martin Tajmar

Martin Tajmar
Biography
Born	1974
Nationality	Austrian
Affiliations	AIT Austrian Institute of Technology → ESA Advanced Concepts Team → TU Dresden
Field	Gravitomagnetic experiments; space propulsion; MEMS thrusters
Known For	Anomalous frame-dragging signals near spinning superconductors (2006–2012)
Key Result	Coupling factor ~10⁻⁸ (10¹⁸× GR prediction)
Status	Results disputed — possible helium artifact identified
The only experimentalist to report direct detection of a Gravitomagnetic London Moment signal

⚡️	Electrogravitics - Electrogravitic Tech	Electrokinetics - Electrokinetic Tech
🧲	Magnetogravitics - Magnetogravitic Tech	Magnetokinetics - Magnetokinetic Tech

Martin Tajmar (born 1974) is an Austrian experimental physicist specializing in advanced propulsion concepts or exotic gravitational effects. Between 2006 and 2012, he conducted a series of experiments measuring anomalous frame-dragging-like signals near spinning superconductors — results that, if confirmed, would represent the first direct detection of a Gravitomagnetic London Moment and provide strong evidence for Ning Li's gravitomagnetic superconductor theory.

Career

Academic Trajectory

Period	Position	Focus
1990s–2003	AIT Austrian Institute of Technology	Space propulsion, advanced concepts
2003–2006	ESA Advanced Concepts Team	Gravitomagnetic experiments, theory collaboration with C.J. de Matos
2006–present	TU Dresden, Institute of Aerospace Engineering	Chair of Space Systems; MEMS thrusters; continued gravitomagnetic research

Tajmar is a prolific researcher with publications spanning conventional space propulsion (ion engines, field-emission thrusters, MEMS devices) as well as the more exotic gravitomagnetic work. His mainstream credentials in space engineering give his anomalous results additional weight — this is not a fringe researcher but a working aerospace engineer.

The Rotating Superconductor Experiments

Phase 1: Initial Detection (2006)

In collaboration with C.J. de Matos (ESA), Tajmar reported the first anomalous signals:

Setup:

• Niobium (Nb) ring, ~15 cm diameter, in helium cryostat at ~4 K
• Precision ring-laser gyroscope mounted above the ring, mechanically decoupled
• Rotation speeds up to ~100 rad/s
• Control runs with stainless steel (non-superconducting) ring at same temperature

Result: An induced acceleration field outside the superconductor on the order of ~10⁻⁴ g was detected. The gravitomagnetic-like coupling factor:

${\frac {B_{g}}{\omega }}\approx 10^{-8}$

Comparison with theory:

Signal vs Predictions

Source	$B_{g}/\omega$ coupling	Ratio to Tajmar
Classical GR (Lense-Thirring)	~10⁻²⁶	10⁻¹⁸
Li-Torr prediction	~10⁻¹⁵	10⁻⁷
Tajmar measurement	~10⁻⁸	1

The measured signal was:

• ~10¹⁸× the classical GR prediction
• ~10⁷× even Li-Torr's amplified prediction

Phase 2: Refined Measurements (2007)

Updated experiments with improved apparatus:

Key findings from the refined campaign:

Phase 2 Results

Observation	Detail	Significance
Temperature threshold	Effect appeared below ~30 K	Did not coincide with Nb superconducting Tc (9.3 K)
Parity violation	Signal greatly enhanced for clockwise rotation only	Breaks expected symmetry — unusual for conventional artifact
Coupling factor	Refined to ~3 × 10⁻⁸	Consistent with Phase 1
Systematic analysis	Known systematics ≤ 10⁻¹¹	3 orders of magnitude below signal
Control ring	Stainless steel at same temperature → no signal	Rules out simple thermal/mechanical artifact

The parity violation was particularly striking: the frame-dragging-like signal was preferentially observed when the ring rotated in one direction relative to Earth's rotation axis. This is unexpected for any simple mechanical or thermal artifact and suggests a coupling to Earth's own gravitomagnetic field (which does have a preferred direction via the Lense-Thirring effect).

Phase 3: Fiber Optic Gyroscope Measurements (2008)

Using independent sensor technology:

• Below a critical temperature (~30 K), the fiber-optic gyroscope's Earth-rotation offset was modified
• At maximum ring speed (420 rad/s), the anomalous signal compensated approximately one third of the Earth rotation offset
• The effect was dominant for rotation against Earth's spin (consistent with parity violation)

Phase 4: Helium Artifact Investigation (2008–2012)

In later experiments, Tajmar investigated whether rotating cold helium gas in the cryostat could produce similar signals via thermomechanical coupling to the gyroscope:

• Some configurations showed that cold gas circulation could produce gyroscope signals of similar magnitude
• The temperature threshold (~30 K) was consistent with helium gas dynamics rather than superconductivity
• Tajmar himself acknowledged this as a possible mundane explanation

However, the parity violation and the superconductor-specific nature of some signals remain unexplained by the helium hypothesis. The matter is not definitively resolved.

Theoretical Framework

The Graviphoton Model

Tajmar and de Matos proposed a theoretical framework based on a massive spin-1 graviton analog — the graviphoton — to explain their results:

In analogy with the London penetration depth for electromagnetic fields in superconductors:

$\lambda _{\text{em}}={\sqrt {\frac {m^{*}}{n_{s}\mu _{0}e^{*2}}}}$

They defined a gravitomagnetic London penetration depth:

$\lambda _{g}={\sqrt {\frac {c^{2}}{4\pi G\rho }}}$

For niobium ($\rho \approx 8900$ kg/m³):

$\lambda _{g}\approx 1.7\times 10^{4}{\text{ m}}$

This gives a graviphoton mass of:

$m_{g}={\frac {\hbar }{c\cdot \lambda _{g}}}\approx 10^{-39}{\text{ kg}}$

The graviphoton mass is extremely small but non-zero, which is the key departure from standard GR (where the graviton is massless). A massive graviphoton would:

• Allow gravitomagnetic field expulsion from superconductors (analog of Meissner effect)
• Explain the amplified coupling factor
• Predict a Yukawa-like gravitational modification at range $\lambda _{g}$

Relationship to Li-Torr

The Li-Torr prediction and the Tajmar graviphoton model agree qualitatively — both predict an enormously amplified gravitomagnetic signal from rotating superconductors. However, they disagree quantitatively: Tajmar's signal (~10⁻⁸) is ~10⁷× stronger than Li-Torr's prediction (~10⁻¹⁵).

Possible reconciliations:

• Li-Torr underestimated the coherence amplification factor
• Additional amplification from the Cooper pair BCS ground state that Li-Torr did not calculate
• Tajmar's signal is partially (but not entirely) artifact, and the true coupling is closer to Li-Torr
• A different theoretical framework (e.g., Heim Theory) is needed

Replication Attempts

Independent Replication Status

Group	Year	Result	Notes
Canterbury (NZ)	2007	No signal detected	Different sensor, possibly insufficient sensitivity
Graham et al.	2008	Null result	Used different ring geometry and materials
Tajmar (at TU Dresden)	2010–2012	Mixed — helium artifact identified for some signals	Ongoing investigation
NASA (BPP program)	2002	Null result	Pre-Tajmar; tested Podkletnov-type setup, not Tajmar's specific geometry

No independent group has confirmed Tajmar's results with sufficient sensitivity and proper controls. However, no group has exactly replicated his setup either — the experiments are technically demanding and expensive.

Significance for Magneto Speeder

Tajmar's experiments are important for the Magneto Speeder because:

1. If the signal is real, it validates the Gravitomagnetic London Moment mechanism at a level stronger than even Li-Torr predicted — making magnetogravitic propulsion more plausible, not less
2. The coupling factor (~10⁻⁸) would reduce the engineering gap from 14 orders of magnitude (vs GR) to only 7 orders of magnitude
3. The parity violation suggests that Earth's own gravitomagnetic field (from its rotation) could be exploited — relevant to planetary-surface vehicle design
4. Even if Tajmar's signal is artifact, his work established the experimental methodology for future attempts

Engineering Significance

If Tajmar is...	Implication for Magneto Speeder
Fully correct	Gap to practical thrust is ~10⁷ — achievable with rotor arrays + resonant oscillation
Partially correct	True coupling between 10⁻¹⁵ and 10⁻⁸ — challenging but not impossible
Fully artifact	Li-Torr theoretical framework still stands; gap is ~10¹⁴; requires breakthrough

Publications

Selected Gravitomagnetic Publications

Year	Title	Venue	Ref
2006	"Experimental Detection of the Gravitomagnetic London Moment"	arXiv:gr-qc/0603033	Preprint
2006	"Local Photon and Graviton Mass and its Consequences"	arXiv:gr-qc/0603032	Preprint
2007	"Search for Frame-Dragging-Like Signals Close to Spinning Superconductors"	Proc. 2nd Int. Conf. Time and Matter	Peer-reviewed
2008	"Anomalous Fiber Optic Gyroscope Signals..."	J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 150	Peer-reviewed

See Also

• Ning Li
• Tate Experiment
• Gravitomagnetic London Moment
• Gravitoelectromagnetism
• Gravity Probe B
• Heim Theory
• Magnetogravitics
• Magneto Speeder
• Magnetogravitic Tech