Understanding Complex Valued Magnetic Fields

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To determine the actual magnitude of a complex valued magnetic vector field, multiplying by the complex conjugate is necessary. The direction is typically represented by the real part, while the imaginary part may be a calculation artifact rather than contributing to the physical field. The interpretation of the real and imaginary components can vary based on how the complex field is constructed. The relationship between the real part and the total field can lead to confusion regarding the representation of direction and magnitude. Understanding these aspects is crucial for accurately analyzing complex magnetic fields.
chrisjk
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I have a complex valued (magnetic) vector field. In order to find the actual magnitude, do I need to multiply by the complex conjugate? If I remember correctly, the direction is given only by the real part. Can anyone verify this?
 
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The real part might be the total field, and the imaginary part could be just a calculation artifact. But that really depends on the way that complex field is constructed.

Direction in the real part and magnitude in the magnitude of the complex vector looks strange to me (but this does not mean it is impossible).
 

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