Evidence for the Existence of Fractional Charge on Matter

Abstract

We present results of a superconducting magnetic levitation experiment which provide evidence for the existence of fractional charge on matter. Three niobium balls heat-treated on a tungsten substrate were found to have residual charges of $(+0.337\mathrm{}\pm 0.009)e$, $(-0.001\mathrm{}\pm 0.025)e$, and $(-0.331\mathrm{}\pm 0.070)e$. All five niobium balls heat-treated on a niobium substrate had residual charges near zero.