Electrostatic force analysis of electrostatic levitation system

This paper focuses in particular on the lateral electrostatic force characteristic of an electrostatic levitation system as part of the overall system dynamics. The lateral force exerted on a levitated aluminum disk, used in hard disk applications, originating from a relative translation of the disk with respect to the stator electrode, is analytically studied. Experimental results are presented in order to assess and verify the validity of the analytical solution for the electrostatic forces.