ON THE ORIGIN OF THE EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD
Abstract
It is suggested that the inner core of the earth may be a new high pressure phase of iron. The observed density is in accord with a phase transition presumed to be associated with the transfer of two of the '3p' electrons of the 'argon core' of atomic iron to the '3d-4s' band. The high pressure phase would be ferromagnetic and have an estimated Curie temperature of about 5500 K. The earth's magnetic field would arise from the residual magnetization of the unmagnitized ferromagnetic core. Magnetostrictive effects can cause variations in magnitude and direction of this field. Planets with small mass would not develop the pressures required and would have no magnetic fields.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0409135
Entities
People
- R. J. Weiss
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory