| Superconductors (YBCO, NbTi) | Magnetic, persistent current, Meissner effect | Can levitate (Meissner effect) | Extremely high at cryogenic temps | Combine with diamagnetics for stable levitation; can produce strong static magnetic fields for propulsion concepts |
| Diamagnetic materials (Bismuth, Pyrolytic Graphite) | Weak magnetic repulsion | Strong in high field gradients | Very high | Useful for levitation; can combine with superconductors or ferrofluids for hybrid field platforms |
| Metamaterials (split-ring resonators, photonic crystals) | EM wave manipulation, negative permittivity/permeability | EM-guided levitation possible | High (depends on substrate) | Can shape or focus EM fields; combine with superconductors or plasma for field amplification |
| Topological Insulators (Bi₂Se₃, Bi₂Te₃) | Spin currents, surface conduction, EM coupling | Surface-level quasi-weightless field transport | High (surface states robust) | Combine with superconductors for low-loss field propagation; could generate spin-based forces |
| Piezoelectric Crystals (Quartz, LiNbO₃) | Electrostatic field via stress | Small electrostatic levitation possible | High | Can couple with ferrofluids, metamaterials, or capacitive arrays to produce controllable fields |
| Pyroelectric Crystals (Tourmaline, LiTaO₃) | Electrostatic field via temperature gradients | Small levitation via electrostatic repulsion | High | Combine with plasma or vacuum gap for micro-field propulsion experiments |
| Plasma / Ionized Gas | Electromagnetic, ionized currents | Quasi-weightless | Low-medium (needs confinement) | Can generate strong dynamic fields; combine with superconducting magnetic traps for levitation/control |
| Bose-Einstein Condensates (BEC) | Coherent quantum fields, superfluidity | Levitation in magnetic/optical traps | Very low (lab-limited) | Best for lab-scale quantum field experiments; combine with ultra-cold superconducting platforms |
| Quantum Vacuum / Casimir Structures | Zero-point energy, Casimir forces | Propellantless force, quasi-weightless | Very high (nano-plates stable) | Combine with piezoelectric or metamaterial structures for micro-thrust or nanoscale propulsion |
| Carbon Nanostructures (Graphene, CNTs, Fullerenes) | EM, energy storage, field conduction | Ultra-low mass, manipulable | High | Can form EM field meshes, capacitive arrays, or structural lightweight field platforms |
| Ferrofluids / Magnetorheological Fluids | Magnetic field shaping, controlled viscosity | Can levitate small objects in magnetic gradients | Medium | Combine with superconductors or metamaterials for dynamic field shaping and actuation |
| Superfluid Helium | Quantum vortices, frictionless flow | Levitation in optical/magnetic traps | Medium | Can sustain rotating fields without loss; combine with BEC or Casimir devices for exotic field interactions |
| Electrets | Static electric fields (permanent charge) | Small levitation potential | High | Useful for generating sustained fields; combine with piezo/pyroelectric arrays |
| Photovoltaic / Photoelectric Films | EM field generation via light-induced currents | Not inherently weightless | High | Can drive field generation without external wiring; combine with metamaterials or superconductors for EM modulation |
| Magnetically Levitated Microstructures (MEMS / microcoils) | Magnetic, EM, small-scale actuation | Micro-scale levitation | Medium | Combine with ferrofluids, piezoelectric layers, or superconductors for hybrid micro-propulsion |
