[Physics] Zero curl of magnetic field and Ampére’s law

electric-currentelectromagnetismmagnetic fields

Is it true that if I a have zero curl of the magnetic field, I will get a zero current density using Ampére's law? I know that on the surface of the conductor it doesn't have to be true (the current density is going to be infinite here), but is it true that using Ampére's law here is useless?

Best Answer

Note Maxwell-Ampere's law

$$ \frac{1}{\mu_0}\left(\vec\nabla \times \mathbf{B}\right) = \left(\mathbf{J}_{\rm enc} + \epsilon_0 \frac{\partial\mathbf{E}}{\partial t}\right). $$

  • $\mathbf{J}_{\rm enc}$ is the current density enclosed by a path.
  • $\epsilon_0 \frac{\partial\mathbf{E}}{\partial t}$ is the displacement current density, due to a time-varying, nonconservative electric field.

If ${\rm curl\,}\mathbf{B}$ is zero then the entire right hand side is zero also --- which means there is no net current density.

The question then begs whether the possibility that you have described can really exist. Because we know by Gauss' law applied to magnetism that

$$ \vec \nabla \cdot \mathbf{B} = 0,$$

we know all magnetic fields must curl. North poles must connect to south poles. Sure, magnetic fields can be locally uniform, but they must curl at some point. The only way that $\nabla \times \mathbf{B} = 0$ is if there is no magnetic field at all, if we are talking about the field at all locations in space.

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