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What is the governing differential equation on the interface of two areas with different permeabilities in magnetostatics?

Physics Asked on July 10, 2021

The boundary condition requires that parallel component of magnetic field intensity to be continuous on the interface of two adjacent media with different permeabilities. for example on a 2d plane in cartesian coordinates, for a boundary that is located on $x=x_b$ and is parallel to y-axis, we have:
$$lim_{x to x_b^+} H_y = lim_{x to x_b^-} H_y$$
this suggests that the parallel component of flux density and therefore the normal derivative of potential is not continuous due to different permeabilities.
$$lim_{x to x_b^+} frac{1}{mu_1}B_y = lim_{x to x_b^-} frac{1}{mu_2}B_y$$
$$lim_{x to x_b^+} frac{1}{mu_1}frac{partial A_z}{partial x} = lim_{x to x_b^-} frac{1}{mu_2}frac{partial A_z}{partial x}$$
now since $A_z$ is no longer differentiable, hence the laplace equation should not be satisfied on the boundary.
the question is what is the governing differential equation on a point that is exactly on the boundary?

One Answer

First, let's start with the assumption/definition that $mathbf{B} = mu mathbf{H}$, where $mathbf{H}$ is called the magnetic field, $mathbf{B}$ is called the magnetic induction, and $mu$ is the permeability of the substance/medium. As discussed in this answer, there can be a finite surface current density, $mathbf{K}$, on the boundary of a conductor. This is illustrated using the usual boundary condition of: $$ oint_{C} mathbf{H} cdot dmathbf{l} = int_{S'} da left[ mathbf{j} + partial_{t} mathbf{D} right] cdot mathbf{n}' tag{0} $$ where $mathbf{j}$ is the current density (specifically the macroscopic average current density, [see pages 248--258 in Jackson, [1999] book for definition and derivation]), $S'$ is a closed surface with an outward unit normal $mathbf{n}'$, and $partial_{t} = tfrac{ partial }{ partial t }$.

It turns out that in the limit where there is a finite $mathbf{K}$ the right-hand side of Equation 0 goes to $mathbf{K} cdot mathbf{t} Delta l$, where $mathbf{t}$ is the unit vector transverse to the surface $S'$ and $Delta l$ is the scale length of the pill box transverse to the surface $S'$. In this limit, the boundary conditions between two media of different permeabilities go to: $$ begin{align} mathbf{n} cdot left( mathbf{B}_{2} - mathbf{B}_{1} right) & = 0 tag{1a} mathbf{H}_{1} cdot mathbf{n} & = frac{ mu_{1} }{ mu_{2} } left( mathbf{H}_{2} cdot mathbf{n} right) tag{1b} mathbf{n} times left( mathbf{H}_{2} - mathbf{H}_{1} right) & = mathbf{K} tag{1c} end{align} $$ where subscripts $1$ and $2$ refer to the two different regions. Note this assumes that $mu$ is not a function of $mathbf{H}$, i.e., the linear limit [e.g., see pages 193--194 in Jackson, [1999]].

For discussion of induced eddy currents and magnetic diffusion, see pages 219--223 in Jackson [1999].

the question is what is the governing differential equation on a point that is exactly on the boundary?

As I mention above, there can be abrupt changes right at the boundary for various reasons (e.g., induced currents). However, these are often confined to regions one or less skin depths from the surface. For copper at room temperature, the skin depth is $sim0.0652 left( nuleft[ Hz right] right)^{-1/2}$ m. That is, for incident electromagnetic fluctuations at frequencies above ~100 MHz the skin depth is on the order of microns. For extremely thin materials, this could pose a problem for such low frequencies but would be negligible for any sufficiently thick material.

So in the limit that we care about the exact conditions across the boundary, then we need to use Equation 0 with the modification allowing for a finite $mathbf{K}$ flowing along the surface.

References

  • J.D. Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics, Third Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, NY, 1999.

Correct answer by honeste_vivere on July 10, 2021

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