Ampère's circuital law

Electromagnetism

Electricity Magnetism
Electrostatics Electric charge Coulomb's law Electric field Electric flux Gauss's law Electric potential energy Electric potential Electrostatic induction Electric dipole moment Polarization density
Magnetostatics Ampère's law Electric current Magnetic field Magnetization Magnetic flux Biot–Savart law Magnetic dipole moment Gauss's law for magnetism
Electrodynamics Lorentz force law emf Electromagnetic induction Faraday’s law Lenz's law Displacement current Maxwell's equations EM field Electromagnetic radiation Liénard–Wiechert potential Maxwell tensor Eddy current
Electrical Network Electrical conduction Electrical resistance Capacitance Inductance Impedance Resonant cavities Waveguides
Covariant formulation Electromagnetic tensor EM Stress-energy tensor Four-current Electromagnetic four-potential
Scientists Ampère Coulomb Faraday Gauss Heaviside Henry Hertz Lorentz Maxwell Tesla Volta Weber Ørsted

In classical electromagnetism, Ampère's circuital law, discovered by André-Marie Ampère in 1826,^[1] relates the integrated magnetic field around a closed loop to the electric current passing through the loop. James Clerk Maxwell derived it again using hydrodynamics in his 1861 paper On Physical Lines of Force and it is now one of the Maxwell equations, which form the basis of classical electromagnetism.

1 Original Ampère's circuital law
- 1.1 Integral form
- 1.2 Differential form
2 Note on free current versus bound current
3 Shortcomings of the original formulation of Ampère's circuital law
- 3.1 Displacement current
4 Extending the original law: the Maxwell–Ampère equation
- 4.1 Proof of equivalence
5 Ampère's law in cgs units
6 See also
7 Notes
8 Further reading
9 External links

Original Ampère's circuital law

It relates magnetic fields to electric currents that produce them. Using Ampere's law, one can determine the magnetic field associated with a given current or current associated with a given magnetic field, providing there is no time changing electric field present. In its historically original form, Ampère's Circuital Law relates the magnetic field to its electric current source. The law can be written in two forms, the "integral form" and the "differential form". The forms are equivalent, and related by the Kelvin–Stokes theorem. It can also be written in terms of either the B or H magnetic fields. Again, the two forms are equivalent (see the "proof" section below).

Ampère's circuital law is now known to be a correct law of physics in a magnetostatic situation: The system is static except possibly for continuous steady currents within closed loops. In all other cases the law is incorrect unless Maxwell's correction is included (see below).

Integral form

In SI units (the version in cgs units is in a later section), the "integral form" of the original Ampère's circuital law is:^[2]^[3]

$\oint_C \mathbf{B} \cdot \mathrm{d}\boldsymbol{\ell} = \mu_0 \iint_S \mathbf{J} \cdot \mathrm{d}\mathbf{S}$
$\oint_C \mathbf{H} \cdot \mathrm{d}\boldsymbol{\ell} = \iint_S \mathbf{J}_{\mathrm{f}} \cdot \mathrm{d}\mathbf{S}$

or equivalently,

$\oint_C \mathbf{B} \cdot \mathrm{d}\boldsymbol{\ell} = \mu_0 I_{\mathrm{enc}}$
$\oint_C \mathbf{H} \cdot \mathrm{d}\boldsymbol{\ell} = I_{\mathrm{f,enc}}$

where

• is the vector dot product, $\textstyle \oint_C$ is the closed line integral around the closed curve C, $\textstyle \iint_S$ denotes an integral over the surface S enclosed by the curve C (the double integral sign is meant simply to denote that the integral is two-dimensional in nature);
B is the magnetic B-field in teslas, H is the magnetic H-field in ampere per metre;
I_f,enc is the net free current that penetrates through the surface S, I_enc is the total net current that penetrates through the surface S, including both free and bound current.
J_f is the free current density through the surface S enclosed by the curve C, J is the total current density through the surface S enclosed by the curve C, including both free and bound current;
dℓ is an infinitesimal element (a differential) of the curve C (i.e. a vector with magnitude equal to the length of the infinitesimal line element, and direction given by the tangent to the curve C), dS is the vector area of an infinitesimal element of surface S (that is, a vector with magnitude equal to the area of the infinitesimal surface element, and direction normal to surface S. The direction of the normal must correspond with the orientation of C by the right hand rule);
μ₀ is the magnetic constant;

See below for further explaination of the curve C and surface S. There are a number of ambiguities in the above definitions that require clarification and a choice of convention.

First, three of these terms are associated with sign ambiguities: the line integral $\textstyle \oint_C$ could go around the loop in either direction (clockwise or counterclockwise); the vector area dS could point in either of the two directions normal to the surface; and I_enc is the net current passing through the surface S, meaning the current passing through in one direction, minus the current in the other direction—but either direction could be chosen as positive. These ambiguities are resolved by the right-hand rule: With the palm of the right-hand toward the area of integration, and the index-finger pointing along the direction of line-integration, the outstretched thumb points in the direction that must be chosen for the vector area dS. Also the current passing in the same direction as dS must be counted as positive. The right hand grip rule can also be used to determine the signs.

Second, there are infinitely many possible surfaces S that have the curve C as their border. (Imagine a soap film on a wire loop, which can be deformed by moving the wire). Which of those surfaces is to be chosen? If the loop does not lie in a single plane, for example, there is no one obvious choice. The answer is that it does not matter; it can be proven that any surface with boundary C can be chosen.

Differential form

By the Kelvin–Stokes theorem, this equation can also be written in a "differential form". Again, this equation only applies in the case where the electric field is constant in time; see below for the more general form. In SI units, the equation states:

$\mathbf{\nabla} \times \mathbf{B} = \mu_0 \mathbf{J}$

$\mathbf{\nabla} \times \mathbf{H} = \mathbf{J_f}$

where

$\mathbf{\nabla} \times \!\$ is the curl operator.

Note on free current versus bound current

The electric current that arises in the simplest textbook situations would be classified as "free current"—for example, the current that passes through a wire or battery. In contrast, "bound current" arises in the context of bulk materials that can be magnetized and/or polarized. (All materials can to some extent.)

When a material is magnetized (for example, by placing it in an external magnetic field), the electrons remain bound to their respective atoms, but behave as if they were orbiting the nucleus in a particular direction, creating a microscopic current. When the currents from all these atoms are put together, they create the same effect as a macroscopic current, circulating perpetually around the magnetized object. This magnetization current J_M is one contribution to "bound current".

The other source of bound current is bound charge. When an electric field is applied, the positive and negative bound charges can separate over atomic distances in polarizable materials, and when the bound charges move, the polarization changes, creating another contribution to the "bound current", the polarization current J_P.

The total current density J due to free and bound charges is then:

$\mathbf{J} =\mathbf{J_f %2BJ_M %2BJ_P} \ ,$

with J_f the "free" or "conduction" current density.

All current is fundamentally the same, microscopically. Nevertheless, there are often practical reasons for wanting to treat bound current differently from free current. For example, the bound current usually originates over atomic dimensions, and one may wish to take advantage of a simpler theory intended for larger dimensions. The result is that the more microscopic Ampère's law, expressed in terms of B and the microscopic current (which includes free, magnetization and polarization currents), is sometimes put into the equivalent form below in terms of H and the free current only. For a detailed definition of free current and bound current, and the proof that the two formulations are equivalent, see the "proof" section below.

Shortcomings of the original formulation of Ampère's circuital law

There are two important issues regarding Ampère's law that require closer scrutiny. First, there is an issue regarding the continuity equation for electrical charge. There is a theorem in vector calculus that states the divergence of a curl must always be zero. Hence

$\nabla\cdot(\nabla\times\bold{B}) = 0$

and so the original Ampère's law implies that

$\nabla\cdot \bold{J} = 0$

But in general

$\nabla\cdot \bold{J} = -\frac{\partial \rho}{\partial t}$

which is non-zero for a time-varying charge density. An example occurs in a capacitor circuit where time-varying charge densities exist on the plates.^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]

Second, there is an issue regarding the propagation of electromagnetic waves. For example, in free space, where

$\bold{J} = \bold{0}$

Ampère's law implies that

$\nabla\times\bold{B} = \bold{0}$

but instead

$\nabla\times\bold{B} = - \frac{1}{c^2}\frac{\partial\bold{E}}{\partial t}$

To treat these situations, the contribution of displacement current must be added to the current term in Ampère's law.

James Clerk Maxwell conceived of displacement current as a polarization current in the dielectric vortex sea, which he used to model the magnetic field hydrodynamically and mechanically.^[9] He added this displacement current to Ampère's circuital law at equation (112) in his 1861 paper On Physical Lines of Force .^[10]

Displacement current

Main article: Displacement current

In free space, the displacement current is related to the time rate of change of electric field.

In a dielectric the above contribution to displacement current is present too, but a major contribution to the displacement current is related to the polarization of the individual molecules of the dielectric material. Even though charges cannot flow freely in a dielectric, the charges in molecules can move a little under the influence of an electric field. The positive and negative charges in molecules separate under the applied field, causing an increase in the state of polarization, expressed as the polarization density P. A changing state of polarization is equivalent to a current.

Both contributions to the displacement current are combined by defining the displacement current as:^[4]

$\mathbf{J_D} = \frac {\partial}{\partial t} \mathbf D (\boldsymbol r , \ t) \ ,$

where the electric displacement field is defined as:

$\mathbf{D} = \varepsilon_0 \mathbf{E} %2B \mathbf{P} = \varepsilon_0 \varepsilon_r \mathbf{E} \ ,$

where ε₀ is the electric constant, ε_r the relative static permittivity, and P is the polarization density. Substituting this form for D in the expression for displacement current, it has two components:

$\mathbf{J}_\mathrm{D} = \varepsilon_0 \frac{\partial \mathbf{E}}{\partial t} %2B \frac{\partial \mathbf{P}}{\partial t}.$

The first term on the right hand side is present everywhere, even in a vacuum. It doesn't involve any actual movement of charge, but it nevertheless has an associated magnetic field, as if it were an actual current. Some authors apply the name displacement current to only this contribution.^[11]

The second term on the right hand side is the displacement current as originally conceived by Maxwell, associated with the polarization of the individual molecules of the dielectric material.

Maxwell's original explanation for displacement current focused upon the situation that occurs in dielectric media. In the modern post-aether era, the concept has been extended to apply to situations with no material media present, for example, to the vacuum between the plates of a charging vacuum capacitor. The displacement current is justified today because it serves several requirements of an electromagnetic theory: correct prediction of magnetic fields in regions where no free current flows; prediction of wave propagation of electromagnetic fields; and conservation of electric charge in cases where charge density is time-varying. For greater discussion see Displacement current.

Extending the original law: the Maxwell–Ampère equation

Next Ampère's equation is extended by including the polarization current, thereby remedying the limited applicability of the original Ampère's circuital law.

Treating free charges separately from bound charges, Ampère's equation including Maxwell's correction in terms of the H-field is (the H-field is used because it includes the magnetization currents, so J_M does not appear explicitly, see H-field and also Note):^[12]

$\oint_C \mathbf{H} \cdot \mathrm{d}\boldsymbol{\ell} = \iint_S \left( \mathbf{J}_{\mathrm{f}} %2B \frac{\partial }{\partial t}\mathbf{D} \right) \cdot \mathrm{d} \mathbf{A}$

(integral form), where H is the magnetic H field (also called "auxiliary magnetic field", "magnetic field intensity", or just "magnetic field", D is the electric displacement field, and J_f is the enclosed conduction current or free current density. In differential form,

$\mathbf{\nabla} \times \mathbf{H} = \mathbf{J}_{\mathrm{f}}%2B\frac{\partial }{\partial t}\mathbf{D} \ .$

On the other hand, treating all charges on the same footing (disregarding whether they are bound or free charges), the generalized Ampère's equation (also called the Maxwell–Ampère equation) is (see the "proof" section below):

$\oint_C \mathbf{B} \cdot \mathrm{d}\boldsymbol{\ell} = \iint_S \left( \mu_0 \mathbf{J}%2B \mu_0 \epsilon_0 \frac{\partial }{\partial t}\mathbf{E} \right) \cdot \mathrm{d} \mathbf{A}$

in integral form. In differential form,

$\mathbf{\nabla}\times \mathbf{B} = (\mu_0\mathbf{J}%2B\mu_0 \epsilon_0 \frac{\partial }{\partial t}\mathbf{E}) \ .$

In both forms J includes magnetization current density^[13] as well as conduction and polarization current densities. That is, the current density on the right side of the Ampère–Maxwell equation is:

$\mathbf{J_f%2BJ_D %2BJ_M} = \mathbf{J_f %2BJ_P %2BJ_M} %2B \varepsilon_0 \frac {\partial \mathbf{E}}{\partial t} = \mathbf{J}%2B \varepsilon_0 \frac {\partial \mathbf{E}}{\partial t} \ ,$

where current density J_D is the displacement current, and J is the current density contribution actually due to movement of charges, both free and bound. Because ∇ · D = ρ, the charge continuity issue with Ampère's original formulation is no longer a problem.^[14] Because of the term in ε₀∂E / ∂t, wave propagation in free space now is possible.

With the addition of the displacement current, Maxwell was able to hypothesize (correctly) that light was a form of electromagnetic wave. See electromagnetic wave equation for a discussion of this important discovery.

Proof of equivalence

Proof that the formulations of Ampère's law in terms of free current are equivalent to the formulations involving total current.

In this proof, we will show that the equation

$\nabla\times \mathbf{H} = \mathbf{J}_f %2B \frac{\partial \mathbf{D}}{\partial t}$

is equivalent to the equation

$\mathbf{\nabla} \times \mathbf{B}/\mu_0 = \mathbf{J} %2B \epsilon_0 \frac{\partial \mathbf{E}}{\partial t}$

Note that we're only dealing with the differential forms, not the integral forms, but that is sufficient since the differential and integral forms are equivalent in each case, by the Kelvin–Stokes theorem.

We introduce the polarization density P, which has the following relation to E and D:

$\mathbf{D}=\epsilon_0 \mathbf{E} %2B \mathbf{P}$

Next, we introduce the magnetization density M, which has the following relation to B and H:

$\mathbf{B}/\mu_0 = \mathbf{H} %2B \mathbf{M}$

and the following relation to the bound current:

$\mathbf{J}_{\mathrm{bound}} = \nabla\times\mathbf{M} %2B \frac{\partial \mathbf{P}}{\partial t}\ ,$

$=\mathbf{J}_{\mathrm{M}}%2B\mathbf{J}_{\mathrm{P}}\ ,$

where

$\mathbf{J}_{\mathrm{M}} = \nabla\times\mathbf{M} \ ,$

is called the magnetization current density, and

$\mathbf{J}_{\mathrm{P}} = \frac{\partial \mathbf{P}}{\partial t}\ ,$

is the polarization current density. Taking the equation for B:

$\mathbf{\nabla} \times \mathbf{B}/\mu_0 = \mathbf{\nabla} \times \left( \mathbf {H%2BM} \right)$

$=\mathbf{\nabla} \times \mathbf H %2B \mathbf{J_M}$

$= \mathbf{J_f} %2B \mathbf{J_P} %2B\varepsilon_0 \frac{\partial \mathbf E}{\partial t} %2B \mathbf{J_M}$

Consequently, referring to the definition of the bound current:

$\mathbf{\nabla} \times \mathbf{B}/\mu_0 =\mathbf{J_f}%2B \mathbf{J}_{\mathrm{bound}} %2B \varepsilon_0 \frac{\partial \mathbf E }{\partial t}$

$=\mathbf{J} %2B \varepsilon_0 \frac{\partial \mathbf E}{\partial t} \ ,$

as was to be shown.

Ampère's law in cgs units

In cgs units, the integral form of the equation, including Maxwell's correction, reads

$\oint_C \mathbf{B} \cdot \mathrm{d}\boldsymbol{\ell} = \frac{1}{c} \iint_S \left(4\pi\mathbf{J}%2B\frac{\partial \mathbf{E}}{\partial t}\right) \cdot \mathrm{d}\mathbf{S}$

where c is the speed of light.

The differential form of the equation (again, including Maxwell's correction) is

$\mathbf{\nabla} \times \mathbf{B} = \frac{1}{c}\left(4\pi\mathbf{J}%2B\frac{\partial \mathbf{E}}{\partial t}\right).$

Notes

^ Richard Fitzpatrick (2007). "Ampère's Circuital Law". http://farside.ph.utexas.edu/teaching/316/lectures/node75.html.
^ Heinz E Knoepfel (2000). Magnetic Fields: A comprehensive theoretical treatise for practical use. Wiley. p. 4. ISBN 0471322059. http://books.google.com/?id=1n7NPasgh0sC&pg=PA210&dq=isbn=0471322059#PPA4,M1.
^ George E. Owen (2003). Electromagnetic Theory (Reprint of 1963 ed.). Courier-Dover Publications. p. 213. ISBN 0486428303. http://books.google.com/?id=VLm_dqhZUOYC&pg=PA213&dq=%22Ampere%27s+circuital+law%22.
^ ^a ^b John David Jackson (1999). Classical Electrodynamics (3rd ed.). Wiley. p. 238. ISBN 047130932X.
^ David J Griffiths (1999). Introduction to Electrodynamics (3rd ed.). Pearson/Addison-Wesley. pp. 322–323. ISBN 013805326X. http://books.google.com/?id=w0YgJgAACAAJ&dq=isbn=013805326X.
^ George E. Owen (2003). op. cit.. Mineola, N.Y.: Dover Publications. p. 285. ISBN 0486428303. http://books.google.com/?id=VLm_dqhZUOYC&pg=PA213&dq=%22Ampere%27s+circuital+law%22.
^ J. Billingham, A. C. King (2006). Wave Motion. Cambridge University Press. p. 179. ISBN 0521634504. http://books.google.com/?id=bNePaHM20LQC&pg=PA179&dq=displacement+%22ampere%27s+law%22.
^ J.C. Slater and N.H. Frank (1969). Electromagnetism (Reprint of 1947 ed.). Courier Dover Publications. p. 83. ISBN 0486622630. http://books.google.com/?id=GYsphnFwUuUC&pg=PA83&dq=displacement+%22ampere%27s+law%22.
^ Daniel M. Siegel (2003). Innovation in Maxwell's Electromagnetic Theory: Molecular Vortices, Displacement Current, and Light. Cambridge University Press. pp. 96–98. ISBN 0521533295. http://books.google.com/?id=AbQq85U8K0gC&pg=PA97&dq=Ampere%27s+circuital+law+%22displacement+current%22.
^ James C. Maxweel (1961). "On Physical Lines of Force". Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/On_Physical_Lines_of_Force.pdf.
^ For example, see David J. Griffiths (1999). op. cit.. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. p. 323. ISBN 013805326X. and Tai L. Chow (2006). Introduction to Electromagnetic Theory. Jones & Bartlett. p. 204. ISBN 0763738271. http://books.google.com/?id=dpnpMhw1zo8C&pg=PA153&dq=isbn=0763738271#PPA204,M1.
^ Mircea S. Rogalski, Stuart B. Palmer (2006). Advanced University Physics. CRC Press. p. 267. ISBN 1584885114. http://books.google.com/?id=rW95PWh3YbkC&pg=PA266&dq=displacement+%22Ampere%27s+circuital+law%22.
^ Stuart B. Palmer & Mircea S. Rogalski (2006). Advanced University Physics. CRC Press. p. 251. ISBN 1584885114. http://books.google.com/?id=rW95PWh3YbkC&printsec=frontcover#PPA251,M1.
^ The magnetization current can be expressed as the curl of the magnetization, so its divergence is zero and it does not contribute to the continuity equation. See magnetization current.

External links

Simple Nature by Benjamin Crowell Ampere's law from an online textbook
MISN-0-138 Ampere's Law (PDF file) by Kirby Morgan for Project PHYSNET.
MISN-0-145 The Ampere–Maxwell Equation; Displacement Current (PDF file) by J.S. Kovacs for Project PHYSNET.
The Ampère's Law Song (PDF file) by Walter Fox Smith; Main page, with recordings of the song.
A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field Maxwell's paper of 1864

Physics equations

Physics equations

Fundamental laws/principles	Continuity equation

Classical	Advection equation Barotropic vorticity equation Diffusion equation Drag equation Equation of time Heat equation Ideal gas equation Ionic equation Primitive equations Vorticity equation Wave equation

Relativistic	Mass-energy equivalence equation Relativistic wave equations

General	Equation of motion Equation of state

$E^2=p^2%2Bm^2 \,\!$

Physics equations (eponyms)

Fundamental laws/principles	Electromagnetism Maxwell's equations Gravitation and general relativity Einstein's field equation

Particles	Continuum mechanics Bernoulli's equation Borda–Carnot equation Darcy–Weisbach equation Euler equations (fluid dynamics) Euler's equations (rigid body dynamics) Euler–Lagrange equation Landau–Lifshitz aeroacoustic equation Navier–Stokes equations Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations Prony equation Prandtl–Reuss equations Vlasov equation Deterministic mechanics Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation Newton's laws of motion Statistical mechanics Boltzmann equation Bose-Einstein distribution Fermi-Dirac distribution Bogoliubov–Born–Green–Kirkwood–Yvon hierarchy of equations Langevin equation Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution Sackur–Tetrode equation Stokes–Einstein relation Van der Waals equation Quantum mechanics Dirac equation Dirac equation in the algebra of physical space Fokker–Planck equation Gross–Pitaevskii equation Lindblad equation Levy–Mises equations Wiener equation Relativistic mechanics Euler equations (relativistic)

Fields and particles	Gravitation Gauss's law for gravity Kepler's equation Kepler's laws of planetary motion Electromagnetism Ampère's circuital law Faraday's law of induction Gauss's law for electricity Gauss's law for magnetism Lorentz (force) equation Landau–Lifshitz anisotropic magnetism equation Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation General Poisson equation Poisson equation (screened)

Waves and particles	Mechanical Doppler equations Korteweg–de Vries equation Rankine–Hugoniot equation Photonic Fresnel equations Kirchhoff's diffraction formula Sellmeier equation Quantum De Broglie relations Klein–Gordon equation Schrödinger equation

Energy transforms	Gibbs–Helmholtz equation Helmholtz equation Maxwell's relations

Applied physics	Karplus equation Roothaan equations Tsiolkovsky rocket equation

Theories of physics	Drake equation (aka Green Bank equation) Einstein-Maxwell-Dirac equations Friedmann equations Lane–Emden equation Schwinger–Dyson equation

Ampère's circuital law

Contents

Original Ampère's circuital law

Integral form

Differential form

Note on free current versus bound current

Shortcomings of the original formulation of Ampère's circuital law

Displacement current

Extending the original law: the Maxwell–Ampère equation

Proof of equivalence

Ampère's law in cgs units

See also

Notes

Further reading

External links