Expansion of an Axially Symmetric, Static

Magnetic Field in Terms of Its Axial Field

Kirk T. McDonald
Joseph Henry Laboratories, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544
(March 10, 2011; updated May 22, 2015)

1 Problem
Deduce a series expansion of an axially symmetric, static magnetic eld in terms of its axial
eld Bz (0, 0, z) in cylindrical coordinates (r, , z). Also give an expansion for the vector
potential of this eld. The azimuthal currents that produce this eld are at very large radius
r.

2 Solution
This problem is a peculiar kind of boundary value problem in which a eld is specied only
along a line. In case the on-axis eld has transverse components there is no a unique solution,
as discussed in [1]. Here we obtain a unique solution under the assumption that the eld
o-axis is azimuthally symmetric. See sec. 13.4.2 of [2] for a multipole expansion for elds
without azimuthal symmetry.1

2.1 Expansion of the Field

Suppose a magnetic eld in a current-free region is rotationally symmetric about the z-axis.
Then,
B = Br (r, z)r + Bz (r, z)z (1)
in cylindrical coordinates (r, , z). If we write



Bz (r, z) = an (z)rn , and Br (r, z) = bn (z)rn , (2)
n=0 n=0

then a0(z) = Bz (0, z). Since the divergence of the magnetic eld vanishes, the proposed
expansions (2) obey
1 Br Bz   
B= + = (n + 1)bn rn1 + a(1)
n r n
= 0, (3)
r r z n

where a(m)(z) dm a/dz m . For this to be true at all r, the coecients of rn must separately
vanish for all n. Hence,
b0 = 0, (4)
(1)
an1
bn = . (5)
n+1
1 (0) [1]
The function a0 (z) = a0 (z) used here is the same as C0 (z) in [2].

1
 Since the curl of the magnetic eld also vanishes (outside the source currents),
Br Bz   (1) n 
( B) = = bn r nan rn1 = 0 , (6)
z r n

Again, the coecient of rn must vanish for all n, so that

b(1)
n = (n + 1)an+1 . (7)

Using eq. (7) in eq. (5), we nd

(2)
bn2
bn = . (8)
(n + 1)(n + 3)
Since b0 vanishes, b2n vanishes for all n, and from eq. (7), a2n+1 vanishes for all n. Then,
using eq. (8) in eq. (7), we nd
(2)
a
a2n = 2n2 . (9)
4n2
Repeatedly applying this to itself gives
(2n)
a
a2n = (1) 2n0 2 .n
(10)
2 (n!)
Inserting this in eq. (5), we get
(2n+1)
n+1 a0
b2n+1 = (1) 2n+1
. (11)
2 (n + 1)(n!)2
Combining eqs. (10)-(11) with eq. (2), we arrive at the desired forms,

 (2n)  2n
n a0 (z) r
Bz (r, z) = (1) , (12)
n (n!)2 2
and
 (2n+1)  2n+1
n+1 a0 (z) r
Br (r, z) = (1) , (13)
n (n + 1)(n!)2 2
for the eld components, where
dn a0
(n)
a0 = . (14)
dz n
These results are overly detailed for some purposes. If one is interested only in the leading
behavior at small r, then eqs. (12)-(13) simplify to
r Bz (0, z)
Bz (r, z) Bz (0, z), Br (r, z) . (15)
2 z
The result for Br also follows quickly from B = 0, according to eq. (3),
r r
Bz (r, z) Bz (0, z) r Bz (0, z)
Br (r, z) = r dr r dr = . (16)
0 z 0 z 2 z

2
 It is also instructive that the approximation (16) can be deduced quickly from the integral
form of Gauss law (without the need to recall the form of B in cylindrical coordinates).
Consider a Gaussian pillbox of radius r and thickness dz centered on (r = 0, z). Then,

0 = B dS r2 [Bz (0, z + dz) Bz (0, z)] + 2r dz Br (r, z)
Bz (0, z)
r2 dz + 2r dz Br (r, z) , (17)
z
which again implies eqs. (15).

2.2 Expansion of the Vector Potential

The magnetic eld can be generated by (distant) currents that are purely azimuthal, so that
a purely azimuthal vector potential A suces. Then,
A 1 (rA)
Br = , and Bz = . (18)
z r r

Hence, A = Br dz, are recalling eq. (13) we nd

 (2n)  2n+1
a0 (z) r
A (r, z) = (1)n . (19)
n (n + 1)(n!)2 2

This result also follows from A = (1/r) rBz dr and eq. (12).

3 B Deduced from Its Value on a Surface

A more typical boundary value problem is to determine the eld B from its value on a
bounding surface.
One approach for this is to recall the results of vector diraction theory, particularly as
formulated by Kottler [3, 4] for elds with time dependence eit in vacuum,2
 
ik eikr eikr i eikr
E(x) = J(x) + (x ) dVol + (J n  ) dArea
V c r r S r
 ikr ikr

1   e i   e
n E(x )]
[ + [n B(x )] dArea , (20)
4 S r k r
ikr
1 e
B(x) = J(x)  dVol
c V r
 ikr ikr

1  e i  e

n B(x )]
[ [ 
n E(x )] dArea, (21)
4 S r k r
where n  is the outward unit vector normal to surface S, r = |x x|, c is the speed of
light in vacuum, k = /c, and Gaussian units are employed. See the Appendix of [5] for
derivations and discussion of these forms.
2
The operations involving , which act only on the factor r, should be performed before the surface
integrations in eqs. (20)-(21).

3
 For a region with no currents the magnetic eld can be related to a vector potential that
follows from eq. (21) as
 ikr ikr

1 i e  e
A(x) = 
B(x ) n

[E(x ) n ]
dArea , (22)
4 S r k r
assuming that we can take the curl after performing the integrations. If E and B are zero
everywhere on the surface of a region then A is zero in its interior, according to eq. (22).
The prescription of eq. (22) cannot be extended to all of space since there must be currents
somewhere if B is nonzero somewhere.
In the static limit, = 0 = k, the electric eld does not depend the current density J or
the magnetic eld, and the magnetic eld does not depend on the electric eld. Noting that
(1/r) = r/r2 = (1/r), we obtain

r 1 n E(x)]
r [
E(x) = (x) 2 dVol + dArea , (23)
V r 4 S r2

1 J(x) r  1 r [n B(x)]
B(x) = 2
dVol + 2
dArea , (24)
c V r 4 S r
If there are no currents within the volume of integration, the static magnetic eld there can
be deduced from the vector potential
1 B(x) n 
A(x) = dArea (static limit), (25)
4 S r
recalling eq. (21). The example of a static, toroidal magnetic eld (for which B = 0 outside


the torus but A dl = B dArea is nonzero for loops that link the torus) suggests that
eqs. (22) and (25) are restricted to simply connected regions.

3.1 Uniform Axial Field

As an example, consider a uniform axial eld, B = B0 z that is generated by azimuthal
currents about the z-axis. The associated vector potential has only the azimuthal component
B0
A = . (26)
2
in a cylindrical coordinate system (, , z).
We take the point of observation to be (, 0, 0). As the surface of integration for eq. (25)
we consider a cylinder of radius a > with faces at z1 and z2. Then, B n  = B0
and
z2
1 2 B0 cos
A = Ay = a d dz 2
4 0 z1 z + a2 + 2 2a cos

aB0 2 z2 + z22 + a2 + 2 2a cos
= cos d ln 
4 0 z1 + z12 + a2 + 2 2a cos
2    
aB0
= cos d ln z2 + z22 + a2 + 2 2a cos
4 0
 
  
2 2
+ ln z1 + z12 + a2 + 2 2a cos ln a + 2a cos
 
aB0 2 2 B0
= cos d ln 1 + 2 2 cos = , (27)
4 0 a a 2

4
using 4.397.6 of [6]. A delicacy is our assumption that
2   
cos d ln z + z 2 + a2 + 2 2a cos = 0, (28)
0

for nonzero values of z. This integral clearly goes to zero for large z, and the calculation
(27) of A must be independent of the values of z1 and z2.

3.2 Other Formulations

Section 14.3-4 of [2] gives a formalism by which B can be computed from knowledge of its
normal component, B n , on elliptical cylindrical surfaces, and sec. 18.2 describes the use of
the tangential component B n on circular cylinders. Expansions in terms of a magnetic
scalar potential can also be given [7].

References
[1] H. Mitter and K.T. McDonald, The Helical Wiggler (Oct. 12, 1986),
http://physics.princeton.edu/~mcdonald/examples/helical.pdf

[2] A.J. Dragt, Lie Methods for Nonlinear Dynamics with Applications to Accelerator
Physics (Feb. 27, 2011), http://www.physics.umd.edu/dsat/

[3] F. Kottler, Elektromagnetische Theorie der Beugung an schwarzen Schirmen, Ann.

Phys. 71, 457 (1923),
http://physics.princeton.edu/~mcdonald/examples/EM/kottler_ap_71_457_23.pdf

[4] F. Kottler, Diraction at a Black Screen. Part II: Electromagnetic Theory, Prog. Opt.
6, 331 (1967),
http://physics.princeton.edu/~mcdonald/examples/EM/kottler_po_6_331_67.pdf

[5] M.S. Zolotorev and K.T. McDonald, Time-Reversed Diraction (Sept. 11, 2009),
http://physics.princeton.edu/~mcdonald/examples/laserfocus.pdf

[6] I.S. Gradshteyn and I.M. Ryzhik, Table of Integrals, Series, and Products, 5th ed.
(Academic Press, 1994).

[7] S.R. Muniz, V.S. Bagnato and M. Bhattacharya, Analysis of o-axis solenoid elds
using the magnetic scalar potential: An application to a Zeeman-slower for cold atoms,
Am. J. Phys. 83, 513 (2015),
http://physics.princeton.edu/~mcdonald/examples/EM/muniz_ajp_83_513_15.pdf