Magnetism and Ampere-Maxwell's law

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the Ampere-Maxwell law and its implications for understanding magnetic fields in astrophysics. Participants explore the relationship between magnetic fields, electric fields, and currents, questioning why certain aspects are emphasized or ignored in astrophysical contexts.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that the Ampere-Maxwell law indicates magnetic fields arise from currents or changing electric fields, questioning why these factors are often overlooked in astrophysical discussions.
  • Others argue that the absence of references to currents in popular articles does not imply a lack of emphasis in the broader field of astrophysics.
  • One participant suggests that the existence of magnetic fields without currents challenges the principles of special relativity, while another counters that large magnetic fields can exist without macroscopic currents due to phenomena in plasma physics.
  • There is a discussion about whether large magnetic fields necessitate modifications to the Ampere-Maxwell law, with some participants emphasizing the importance of the time-rate of change of electric fields rather than their magnitude.
  • Questions arise regarding the interpretation of terms in the integral form of the Ampere-Maxwell law, particularly in the context of plasma as a conductive medium.
  • Participants express uncertainty about the implications of large magnetic fields, questioning whether "large" refers to intensity or geometric scale.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the implications of the Ampere-Maxwell law and the role of currents in generating magnetic fields. There is no consensus on whether the law applies universally in astrophysical contexts or how it should be interpreted in relation to plasma physics.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on specific interpretations of the Ampere-Maxwell law and its application in astrophysics, which may not be universally accepted. The discussion highlights the complexity of the relationship between electric fields, currents, and magnetic fields, particularly in different physical contexts.

e2m2a
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Magnetic fields are present in space. Doesn’t Ampere-Maxwell law state this is a consequence of currents or changing e-fields? Why in astrophysics is the emphasis on magnetic fields and no emphasis on currents and changing e-fields that cause these magnetic fields? Does modern astrophysics imply the Ampere-Maxwell’s law does not always logically apply with its converse?

For example, Newton’s second law f = ma is true, and its converse is true. If a net force is applied to an object, the object will accelerate. Its converse is also true. If an object is accelerating, then a net force is acting on it.

Now take the Ampere-Maxwell law. It states mathematically if you have a current or changing e-field, then you must have a magnetic field. But its converse is true: If you have a magnetic field, then you must have a current or a changing e-field present. That’s what the equal sign in the equation implies: If a=b is true, then b=a is true.

This being the case, again, why are currents and changing e-fields ignored in discussions of space magnetism?
 
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Yes, everything you said is true. In what type of contexts due you tend to see currents/E-fields ignored when discussing B-fields?
 
chrisbaird said:
Yes, everything you said is true. In what type of contexts due you tend to see currents/E-fields ignored when discussing B-fields?

Here are two articles talking about magnetic fields in space with no reference to currents.

http://www.unisci.com/stories/20021/0109021.htm

http://www.universetoday.com/62732/magnetic-fields-in-inter-cluster-space-measured-at-last/

This is strange that currents are ignored. I believe it has to do with the known fact that enormous amount of energies would be required to keep unlike charges separated because of Coulomb's law of attraction of unlike charges. However, the presence of magnetic fields imply charges are separated and moving as steady or transient, displacement currents to acquire voltage equilibrium. This is a fact observed by the presence of magnetic fields.

To say magnetic fields exist without currents or displacement currents is implying special relativity doesn't always hold. The E-fields of stationary charges viewed in one frame can be viewed as magnetic fields in other frames that see the charges moving.

To state magnetic fields exist without currents is saying something very strange: stationary charges can generate magnetic fields. Or, even stranger: magnetic fields can exists without the presence of any charge, stationary or moving.
 
e2m2a said:
Magnetic fields are present in space. Doesn’t Ampere-Maxwell law state this is a consequence of currents or changing e-fields?
Correct.
e2m2a said:
Why in astrophysics is the emphasis on magnetic fields and no emphasis on currents and changing e-fields that cause these magnetic fields?
Just because you read two popular articles on astrophysical subjects, and they don't talk about currents, doesn't mean that astrophysics puts 'no emphasis' on them.

e2m2a said:
Does modern astrophysics imply the Ampere-Maxwell’s law does not always logically apply with its converse?
Nope.

e2m2a said:
This being the case, again, why are currents and changing e-fields ignored in discussions of space magnetism?
Probably because articles on "universe today" don't delve into the full depth of the problem. There are a myriad other issues they're 'ignoring' in their discussion as-well. In general, 'popular' science articles don't really contain any of the real 'science'.

e2m2a said:
This is strange that currents are ignored. I believe it has to do with the known fact that enormous amount of energies would be required to keep unlike charges separated because of Coulomb's law of attraction of unlike charges. However, the presence of magnetic fields imply charges are separated and moving as steady or transient, displacement currents to acquire voltage equilibrium. This is a fact observed by the presence of magnetic fields.
False. Large magnetic fields does NOT require large scale charge separation and macroscopic net currents. Astrophysical magnetic fields are generally created and propagated plasmas, seeded from initial magnetohydrodynamic instabilities (e.g. MRI), and amplified through resonance phenomenon or dynamos, etc etc.

e2m2a said:
To say magnetic fields exist without currents or displacement currents is implying special relativity doesn't always hold.
Review maxwell's equations.

e2m2a said:
Or, even stranger: magnetic fields can exists without the presence of any charge, stationary or moving.
What is light?
 
zhermes said:
False. Large magnetic fields does NOT require large scale charge separation and macroscopic net currents.

Why do large magnetic fields not require macroscopic net currents? What happened to Ampere-Maxwell's law? Does large make a modification of this law?
 
e2m2a said:
Why do large magnetic fields not require macroscopic net currents? What happened to Ampere-Maxwell's law? Does large make a modification of this law?
Nope, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell%27s_equations". Magnetic fields depend NOT on the magnitude of electric fields, but on the time-rate of change of electric fields.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1402014333/?tag=pfamazon01-20
 
Last edited by a moderator:
zhermes said:
Magnetic fields depend NOT on the magnitude of electric fields, but on the time-rate of change of electric fields.

Yes, but the first term in the integral form of Ampere-Maxwell's law contains uI, where u is the permeability of free space and I is current. What happened to this first term?

When we are dealing with plasma as the conductive medium, do we ignore this term?

When you speak of large magnetic fields do you mean large as in high Tesla values or large in the geometric sense-- large magnetic loops whose diameters span light years?
 
e2m2a said:
Magnetic fields are present in space. Doesn’t Ampere-Maxwell law state this is a consequence of currents or changing e-fields? Why in astrophysics is the emphasis on magnetic fields and no emphasis on currents and changing e-fields that cause these magnetic fields? Does modern astrophysics imply the Ampere-Maxwell’s law does not always logically apply with its converse?

For example, Newton’s second law f = ma is true, and its converse is true. If a net force is applied to an object, the object will accelerate. Its converse is also true. If an object is accelerating, then a net force is acting on it.

Now take the Ampere-Maxwell law. It states mathematically if you have a current or changing e-field, then you must have a magnetic field. But its converse is true: If you have a magnetic field, then you must have a current or a changing e-field present. That’s what the equal sign in the equation implies: If a=b is true, then b=a is true.

This being the case, again, why are currents and changing e-fields ignored in discussions of space magnetism?

You are correct, if the magnetic currents are being ignored in the publication you are reading they are demonstrating a lack of understanding on how electromagnetism works because if you have a magnetic field you have magnetic currents.
 

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