Magnetic
LIZ PHILLIPS
February 26th, 2025
Major: Physics
Genre/Medium: Aluminum, Steel, Marble, Acrylic
About the work:
What does Psyche’s magnetic field look like? This is one of the primary questions that NASA’s Psyche mission seeks to answer. The sculpture “Magnetic” is an artistic interpretation of a possible magnetic field simulated by the Psyche magnetometry team. Electromagnetic fields are often difficult to visualize on paper, since they are invisible to us. It is my hope that this physical model will allow viewers to experience a more tangible representation of these three-dimensional structures.
Because of its unknown composition and formation history, it is likely that Psyche does not have only two poles like Earth does but rather multiple North and South poles scattered around the surface, creating many complex loops and interacting patterns. As the field lines emanate from the asteroid, they are pushed in one direction by the solar wind causing them to flatten on one side and elongate on the other.
I created the sculpture using metal and stone materials to reflect Psyche’s mixed composition. The asteroid is made of burnished aluminum, and the field lines are galvanized steel wire. Magnetic field lines never intersect and always form closed loops with no beginning or end, a property I kept in mind as I manipulated the loops into familiar yet abstract shapes. The subtle profile in silhouette resembles the Greek goddess Psyche surrounded by symbolic butterflies as her hair is blown back by the solar wind. The asteroid is supported on a clear acrylic rod to help produce the illusion that it is floating above the white marble base.
Special thanks to Dr. Rona Oran for assisting me with the simulations that inspired this piece.
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