Vector Magnetic Potential

Biot Savart Law

Figure 1: The magnetic (H-field)
streamlines inside and outside a
single thick wire.
Figure 2: The H-field magnitude
inside and outside the thick wire
with uniform current density
Figure 3: The H-field magnitude
inside and outside the thick
conductors of a coaxial line.
 Vector Magnetic Potential

∇•B = 0
B = ∇ × A (T )
(
∇• ∇× A = 0 )
A - vector magnetic potential (Wb/m)
Figure 1: The vector potential in
the cross-section of a wire with
uniform current distribution.
 Figure 2: Comparison between the magnetic vector potential
component of a wire with uniformly distributed current and the
electric potential V of the equivalent cylinder with uniformly
distributed charge.
 Poisson’s Equation
∇ × ∇ × A = µ0 J
∇ × ∇ × A = ∇(∇ • A) − (∇ • ∇) A = ∇(∇ • A) − ∇ A 2

Laplacian Operator (Divergence of a gradient)

⇒ ∇(∇ • A) − ∇ A = µ 0 J
2

∇ • A = 0 ⇒ ∇ A = − µ0 J 2

Vector Poisson’s equation

 In electrostatics
∇•D = ρ
ρ
∇× E = 0 ∇ •ε E = ρ ⇒ ∇ • E =
ε
→ E = −∇V ρ
D = εE ∇ • (− ∇V ) =
ε

ρ
∇ V =−
2 Poisson’s Equation

ε
in electrostatics
 ρ 1 ρ
∇ V = − ⇒V = ∫
2
dv
ε0 4πε 0 v R
µ0 J
∇ A = − µ0 J ⇒ A =
2
∫v R dv
4π
 Magnetic Flux

Φ = ∫ B • ds
s

Φ = ∫ (∇ × A) • ds = ∫ A • d l (Wb)
s c
The line integral of the vector magnetic potential A around
any closed path equals the total magnetic flux passing
through area enclosed by the path
Biot Savart Law and
Applications
The Biot-Savart Law relates magnetic fields to the currents
which are their sources. In a similar manner, Coulomb’s Law
relates electric fields to the point charges which are their
sources. Finding the magnetic field resulting from a current
distribution involves the vector product, and is inherently a
calculus problem when the distance from the current to the
field point is continuously changing.
B = ∇ × A (T )
µ0 I  dl 
B= ∫ ∇ ×  
4π c  
µ0 I d l R
A= ∫
4π c R

( )
∇ × f G = f∇ × G + (∇f )× G
 Biot-Savart Law
µ0 I  1  1 
B= ∫ 
4π c  R
∇ × d l +  ∇
 R
 × d l 

1 1
By using ∇  = − a R 2 (see eq 6.31)
R R
µ0 I d l × aR
B= ∫
4π c R 2
(T)
In two steps

B = ∫dB
c

µ0 I  d l × aR 
dB =  

4π  R  2 
Illustration of the law of Biot–Savart showing
magnetic field arising from a differential segment of
current.

I1d L1 × a12
dH2 =
4πR122
Example1
Component values for the equation to find the
magnetic field intensity resulting from an infinite
length line of current on the z-axis. (ex 6-4)
R a R = − z a z + r ar

∞ ∞
Idz a z × (− z a z + r ar ) Ir aφ dz
H= ∫
−∞ 4π ( z + r )
2 2
3
2
=
4π ∫ (z
−∞
2
+r ) 2
3
2

∞
Ir aφ  z  I aφ
=  2 2 2 ⇒H =
4π  r z + r  −∞ 2πr
Example 2
We want to find H at height h above
a ring of current centered in the x –
y plane.
 2π
Iadφ aφ × (h a z − a ar )
H= ∫φ=0 4π (h + a )
2 2
3
2

The component values shown for use in the Biot–Savart

equation.
 The radial components of H cancel
by symmetry.
2 2π
Ia a z
H= ∫ dφ
(
4π h + a
2 2
)
3
2
0

2
Ia a z
H=
(
2 h +a 2 2
)
3
2
 Solenoid

Many turns of insulated wire coiled in the shape of a cylinder.

For a set N number of loops around a ferrite
core, the flux generated is the same even when
the loops are bunched together.
Example : A simple toroid wrapped with N turns modeled
by a magnetic circuit. Determine B inside the closely wound
toroidal coil.

b
Ampere’s Law

∫ B • d l = 2πrBφ = µ NI
0

µ 0 NI
⇒ B = Bφ aφ = aφ , (b − a ) < r < (b + a )
2πr
 Electromagnets

a) An iron bar attached to an electromagnet.

b) The bar displaced by a differential length dl.
 Applications
Levitated trains: Maglev prototype

Electromagnet supporting a
bar of mass m.
Wilhelm Weber (1804-1891). Electromagnetism.