Explanation of the Tao effect

Abstract

In a series of experiments Tao and coworkers\cite{tao1,tao2,tao3} found that superconducting microparticles in the presence of a strong electrostatic field aggregate into balls of macroscopic dimensions. No explanation of this phenomenon exists within the conventional theory of superconductivity. We show that this effect can be understood within an alternative electrodynamic description of superconductors recently proposed that follows from an unconventional theory of superconductivity. Experiments to test the theory are discussed.Comment: Submitted to Science January 2nd, declined January 6th; to Nature January 7th, declined January 13th; to PRL January 14th, declined February 25t