Space Physics (I) [AP-3044] Lecture 1 by Ling-Hsiao Lyu

Oct. 2011

Lecture 1. Dipole Magnetic Field and Equations of Magnetic Field Lines

1.1. Dipole Magnetic Field
Since B = 0 we can define
B=A

(1.1)

where A is called the vector potential. We use the bold face font to denote vector. For static
magnetic field, we have

B = 0 J

(1.2)

Substituting Eq. (1.1) into Eq. (1.2) to eliminate B , it yields

( A) = 2 A + ( A) = 0 J

(1.3)

We choose the Coulomb gauge, A = 0 , the equation (1.3) can be rewritten as

2 A = 0 J

(1.4)

Note that:
If we choose the Coulomb gauge: A = 0 , the scalar potential will contain no
electromagnetic component.
If we choose the Lorentz gauge:

1 (x,t)
+ A (x,t) = 0 , the scalar potential will contain
c 2 t

an electromagnetic component.
Eq. (1.4) is similar to the Poisson equation of the electrostatic potential

2 =

c
0

(1.5)

General solution of Eq. (1.5) can be written as

(r) =

c (r ')
dr '
0 | r r' |

(1.6)

Special Case:
The scalar potential create by a point charge q is

q
4 0 r

Likewise, the general solution of Eq. (1.4) can be written as

A(r) =

0 J(r ')

4 | r r ' | dr '

(1.7)

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Space Physics (I) [AP-3044] Lecture 1 by Ling-Hsiao Lyu

Oct. 2011

Exercise 1.1.
Let f (x) = (1 + x) . For 0 < x < 1 , please determine the approximate polynomial expression
of f (x) . That is, f (x) a0 + a1 x + a2 x 2 + a3 x 3
where a term with magnitude of the order of O(x 4 ) has been ignored.
(a) Write down the general form of a0 , a1 , a2 , a3 for a given
(b) For = 1 / 2 , write down the approximate polynomial expression of f (x) .
(c) For = 1 / 2 , write down the approximate polynomial expression of f (x) .
(d) For = 1 , write down the approximate polynomial expression of f (x) .
(e) For = 2 , write down the approximate polynomial expression of f (x) .
Answesr of Exercise 1.1
(a)
a0 = 1
a1 =
a2 = ( 1) / 2!
a3 = ( 1)( 2) / 3!
1
1 2 1 3
(b) f (x) = 1 + x 1 + x +
x + x
2
8
16
1
1
3
5
1 x + x2 x3
(c) f (x) =
2
8
16
1+ x
1
(d) f (x) =
1 x + x2 x3
1+ x
1
1 2x + 3x 2 4x 3
(e) f (x) =
2
(1 + x)

Figure 1.1. A coordinate system for the study of the field generate by a ring current

J(r ') = ' J 0 (r ' r0 ) ( ' ) = ( sin ' x '+ cos ' y ')J 0 (r ' r0 ) ( ' )
2
2

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Space Physics (I) [AP-3044] Lecture 1 by Ling-Hsiao Lyu

Oct. 2011

Let us consider a coordinate system as illustrated in Figure 1.1, where

r = r cos z + r sin cos x + r sin sin y = r cos z + r sin x '

r ' = r0 cos ' x '+ r0 sin ' y '

' = sin ' x '+ cos ' y '

= y '
Given a ring current J(r ') = ' J 0 (r ' r0 ) ( '

) = ( sin ' x '+ cos ' y ')J 0 (r ' r0 ) ( ' )

2
2

The General solution of the vector potential A is (Jackson, section 5.5)

A(x)
= A = A y '
=

0 J(r ')

4 | r r ' | dr '

r0 + r /2

r0 r /2

dr '

( /2)+ /2

( /2) /2

0 J 0 (r)(r0 )r0
4

0 J 0 (r ' r0 ) [ ' ( / 2)] '

r 'd ' r 'sin 'd '

4 r 2 cos 2 + (r sin r0 cos ')2 + (r0 sin ')2

sin ' x '+ cos ' y '
d '
r 2 + r02 2rr0 sin cos '
0

(1.8)
Let I 0 = J 0 (r)(r0 ) , = r 2 + r02 , = 2rr0 sin , Eq. (1.8) can be written as

A y ' =
=

2
2
0 I 0 r0
sin '
cos '
( x '
d '+ y '
d ')
0
0
4
cos '
cos '

'=
'= 2
0 I 0 r0
d cos '
d cos '
x '[
+
]

'=
0

'=

4
cos '
cos '

2 cos '
0 I 0 r0
1
2
y '
[1 ( cos ') + O( 2 cos 2 ')]d '
0
4
2

0
1
Ir
dx
dx
= 0 0 0 x '[
+
]
1
0
4
x
x

2 cos '
0 I 0 r0
1
2
y '
[1 +
cos ' + O( 2 cos 2 ')]d '
0
4
2

2 cos '
Ir
1
2
= 0 0 0 y '
[1 +
cos ' + O( 2 cos 2 ')]d '
0
4
2

(1.9)
For r >> r0 , i.e., >> , we can ignore the small second-order term O(
(1.9). It yields

13

2
cos 2 ') in Eq.
2

Space Physics (I) [AP-3044] Lecture 1 by Ling-Hsiao Lyu

Oct. 2011

2 cos '
0 I 0 r0
1
y '
[1 +
cos ']d '
0
4
2

2
I r 2

= y ' 0 0 0 [ cos 'd '+

cos 2 'd ']
3/2

0
0
4
2
Ir

= y ' 0 0 0 [0 +
]
4
2 3/2
I r 2rr sin
y ' 0 0 0 [ 0 3 ]
4
2r
2
(I r ) sin
= y ' 0 0 0
4
r2

A y '

(1.10)
Using the definition of magnetic moment M = I 0 r02 , Eq. (1.10) can be written as
A =

0 M sin
4 r 2

(1.11)

Exercise 1.2.
Please determine the dipole magnetic field B from the vector potential given in Eq. (1.11)
Solution of Exercise 1.2:
Since B = A , it yields
r

r sin

Ar

rA

r sin A

r sin

sin 2
r

1
B=A= 2
r sin

M 1
= 0
4 r 2 sin

0 M
4
M
= 0
4
M
= 0
4
=

1
= 2
r sin

r sin

r sin

0 M sin
4 r 2

2
1
sin 2
( sin )]

[
r
(
)

r 2 sin
r
r
r
2
1
2 sin cos
sin

[ r(
) + r( 2 )]
2
r sin
r
r
1
cos ) + (sin )]
[ r(2
r3

(1.12)

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Space Physics (I) [AP-3044] Lecture 1 by Ling-Hsiao Lyu

Oct. 2011

For Earth dipole magnetic field

B=

0 (M E ) 1
cos ) + (sin )]
[ r(2
3
4
r

(1.13)

It can be rewritten as

B=

B0
cos ) + (sin )]
[ r(2
(r / RE )3

(1.14)

where B0 = B(r = RE , = / 2) 0.35G = 35000 = 35000nT is the magnitude of magnetic

field on the Earth' surface at the magnetic equator. The is called the co-latitude. The
latitude is =

.
2

1.2. Differential Equations of the Magnetic Field Line

Let us consider a segment ds along the magnetic field line, where
+ rd + r sin d = xdx
+ ydy + zdz
ds = rdr

It yields

ds = ds = dr 2 + r 2 d 2 + r 2 sin 2 d 2 = dx 2 + dy 2 + dz 2

r + B + B = xB
x + yBy + zBz
Let B = rB
Since B ds , it yields

dr rd r sin d ds
=
=
=
Br
B
B
B

(1.15)

Eq. (1.15) can be rewritten in the following system ordinary differential equations
dr Br
=
ds B
rd B
=
ds
B
r sin d B
=
ds
B

(1.16)

Likewise, B ds yields

dx dy dz ds
=
= =
Bx By Bz B

(1.17)

Eq. (1.17) can be rewritten in the following system ordinary differential equations

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Space Physics (I) [AP-3044] Lecture 1 by Ling-Hsiao Lyu

dx Bx
=
ds B
dy By
=
ds
B
dz Bz
=
ds B

Oct. 2011

(1.18)

Eqs. (1.16) and (1.18) can be solved by the 2nd order or the fourth order Runge-Kutta
method.
1.3. Dipole Magnetic Field Line
The Earth dipole magnetic field is given in Eq. (1.14). From Eq. (1.15), the dipole magnetic
field line should satisfy the following differential equation
dr
rd
=
2 cos sin

(1.19)

Solving Eq. (1.19), it yields

dr 2 cos d
d sin
=
=2
r
sin
sin

Integrating along the field line, it yields

r( )

r( = /2)

dln r( ) = 2

sin

sin( = /2)

dln sin

(1.20)

Let r( = / 2) = req = LRE , Eq. (1.20) yields

r( ) = req sin 2 = LRE sin 2

(1.21)

Exercise 1.3.
A dipole magnetic field line with a given L value will intersect with the Earth's surface at
latitude L . For L = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, find the corresponding latitude L .
Exercise 1.4.
Plot the dipole magnetic field line with L = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Exercise 1.5.
Plot the dipole magnetic field lines, which intersect with the Earth's surface at L = 80, 70,
60, 50, 40, 30, 20, and 10. Estimate the corresponding L values.

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