Where Did the Power of Magnetism Come From? - M.Al Field

Abstract

Where Did the Power of Magnetism Come From? - M.Al Field Introduction: Iron is a peculiar metal; it behaves almost like an alloy—indeed, its very composition resembles that of an alloy. This is not merely a poetic metaphor, but a physical reality. Iron (Fe-56) is the only element in the periodic table that a star cannot "cook" to generate energy. For all preceding elements—from hydrogen to silicon—fusion releases energy, fueling the star's light. But when the fusion process reaches iron, the "furnace" shuts down. Iron does not yield energy; it consumes it. Consequently, it serves as the ultimate "ash" for all stars; it represents the end. Precisely because it marks this endpoint, it is the most tightly bound and stable element in the universe; its nucleus possesses the strongest binding energy. Thus, it is not merely a simple, pure element, but rather a balanced cosmic alloy—a perfect mixture forged by the primordial explosion. For this reason, iron is never found in isolation. It is invariably accompanied by its "offspring": chromium (24), cobalt (27), and nickel (28). All of them strive to emulate its stability, and all belong to the same elemental family. If a star’s core is made of iron, it follows that the core of any source of intense gravity in the universe must also be iron. This is precisely what occurs in neutron stars: An iron-and-cobalt core combined with a repulsive outer shell results in immense gravity packed into a compact volume. This raised a question: If iron constitutes the gravitational core, what is the repulsive shell that transforms it into a magnet? The answer lay in the stars themselves.