Trajectory deflection of spinning magnetic microparticles: The Magnus effect at the microscale

The deflection due to the Magnus force of magnetic particles with a diameter of 80 μm dropping through fluids and rotating in a magnetic field was measured. With the Reynolds number for this experiment around 1, we found trajectory deflections of the order of 1°, in agreement with the measurement error in theory. This method holds promise for the sorting and analysis of the distribution in magnetic moment and particle diameter of suspensions of microparticles, such as applied in catalysis, or objects loaded with magnetic particles.