1

Since the magnetic induction equation is

$${\frac {\partial {\boldsymbol {B}}}{\partial t}}=\nabla \times ({\boldsymbol {v}}\times {\boldsymbol {B}})+\eta \nabla ^{2}{\boldsymbol {B}}$$

I want to ask why the second term (diffusion of magnetic field) is caused by Joule heating effects?

Thank you very much!

Yui
  • 87

1 Answers1

0

This equation, which describes the magnetic field in a conducting fluid, is derived from the system of Maxwell equations and Ohm's law. Consider three equations (the law of Ampere, Ohm, and Faraday respectively) $$\nabla \times \vec {B}=\mu \vec {j}$$ $$\vec {j}=\sigma (\vec E+\vec {v}\times \vec {B})$$ $$\frac {\partial \vec {B}}{\partial t}=-\nabla \times \vec {E}$$ Combining equations we find $$\frac {\partial \vec {B}}{\partial t}=\nabla \times(\vec {v}\times \vec {B})+\eta \nabla ^2 \vec {B} $$ with $\eta = 1/\mu\sigma$. Thus, the diffusion of the magnetic field is associated with the electrical conductivity of the fluid and with Ohm's law. Joule heating is also linked to conductivity and Ohm’s law. Both effects are related by the equation $$\frac {\vec {j}^2}{\sigma }=\frac {\eta }{\mu }(\nabla \times \vec {B})^2$$

Alex Trounev
  • 3,754
  • Could I think it intuitively that it's because the collision of electrons that somehow makes the magnetic field diffusion (by joule heating effects)? – Yui May 28 '19 at 15:56
  • @Yui This is the correct explanation in the case when the electrical conductivity is due to the movement of electrons. But conductivity can also be caused by the movement of ions. – Alex Trounev May 28 '19 at 23:22