SCIENCE AND ART




We sent the following to a number of danish physicists who, we read, were working with magnetism in different forms:

"... we would be happy to receive comments on the works from Danish physicists. Two factors have been particularly surprising: the first is that the same group of magnets generates quite different shapes when generated several times. The differences may be explained by the small fluctuations that occur in the blending of iron chips and fixative and in the actual exposure.

Another surprise was the "jumping" magnetic field, where the field forms an arc. It is not the arc that surprises, but the fact that all the magnetic lines gather in the arc and do not leave an ordinary magnetic field around the arc. The magnetic lines gather so to speak in a bundle. A bit like a spark forming an arc between two coal electrodes. Is this a phenomenon that physicists are familiar with?

If so, we would be grateful for an explanation. Just as we are interested in information about similar creations. We hope that physicists at Danish universities might be interested in observing what we have produced. Based on the fact that our searches on the web have not resulted in similar images, and that we have to face the fact that perhaps we are the first to have produced such magnetic fields fixated in 3-dimensional shapes? …

Some of the replies we recieved can be seen below.

Jakob Bohr
Professor, Denmarks Technical University (DTU)

”Thanks for your kind letter and for the folder where the very exciting works of art are pictured.

Your works make me think of magnetic fluids where a related phenomenon can be seen (search the web on magnetic fluids). Your mixing can partly be regarded as a very tough liquid during the time before the fixation sets in.

Here are a few comments on your text and questions:
A) The quite different structures that occur despite the same-standing magnets. You are right in saying that this can be influenced by fluctuations from the mixture.

"It could be really exciting if you want to show it to physicists and mathematicians.
I would like to ponder a little over what would be a good occasion. I look forward to learning more about what you are creating with your art. "

B) Magnet lines collect in a bundle. It is known that it is due to a material property called permeability, the lines gather in the material, which therefore grows mostly at the sharp edges and thus gives rise to a fractal-like structure. All the material can hold onto the field lines known from transformers, ferrite cores, powerful electric magnets where the poles are pointed to provide a reinforcement of the field in the poles gap.

It could be really exciting if you want to show it to physicists and mathematicians. I would like to ponder a little over what would be a good occasion. I look forward to learning more about what you are creating with your art. Congratulations on the works. ..."

(a later comment):
"The oils are balanced forms between magnetic forces, surface tension, and gravity whereas your structures are forms of growth, in - if I may say - freeze the momentum of growth. ...

You are welcome to translate and use my comments in excerpts.”

Yours sincerely,
Jakob (Bohr), February 11, 2019

Morten Bo Madsen
Associate Professor, Niels Bohr Institute Copenhagen University

"... thank you so much for your letter with pictures of your beautiful sculptures - they are very inspiring to study.

I think I can explain why your bow looks like it does. The small pointed protrusions on the arc are no coincidence, but show that the magnetic field lines are actually "thinned" slightly as the distance from the source to the magnetic field increases. ..."

Morten Bo Madsen, April 8, 2019

"thank you so much for your letter with pictures of your beautiful sculptures - they are very inspiring to study. "