A magnetic suspension for small rotors has been developed which employs scattered light to regulate the vertical height of the rotor. Upon entering a horizontal beam of light the rotor scatters or reflects light into a photo‐electron multiplier cell. This cell actuates an electronic circuit which in turn regulates the current through the supporting solenoid in such a way as to maintain the ferromagnetic rotor at the desired vertical position. Rotors with diameters down to 0.004″ have been stably supported. A164′′rotor was spun to an estimated speed of 800,000 r.p.s. which gave a centrifugal field in excess of one‐half billion times gravity. Besides providing a support for rotors, the apparatus may be used as an analytical balance for weighing materials inside a vacuum chamber. It detects changes in mass of from 10−8to 10−9gram. Other uses also are indicated.