NASA

TN D-.4.65

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TECHNICAL NOTE
D-665

THE

By

MAGNETIC

Edmund

FIELD

E.

OF

Callaghan

Lewis

and

Research
Cleveland,

NATIONAL

AERONAUTICS

WASHINGTON

FINITE

SOLENOID

Stephen

H.

Maslen

Center
Ohio

AND

SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Oetober

1960

NATIONAL

AERONAUTICS

AND

TECHNICAL

THE
By

O
O

MAGNETIC

Edmund

E.

FIELD
Callaghan

SPACE

NOTE

OF A

ADMINISTRATION

D-465

FINITE

and

SOLENOID

Stephen

H. Maslen

SUMMARY
The axial and radial
fields
at any point inside
or outside
a finite
solenoid
with infinitely
thin walls are derived.
Solution
of the equations has been obtained
in terms of tabulated
complete
elliptic
integrals.
For the axial field an accurate
approximation
is given in terms of
elementary
functions.
Fields
internal
and external
to the solenoid
are
presented

in graphical

form

for

a wide

variety

of

solenoid

lengths.

INTRODUCTION
!
O

The recent
great
interest
in plasmas
either
as a source
of energy
or as a propulsion
device
has resulted
in a greatly
renewed
interest
in
the magnetic
fields
produced
by various
configurations
of electromagnets.
Of the possible
methods
of plasma
confinement
by far the most promising
appears
to be the use of magnetic
fields
(ref. I).
The calculation
of the fields
generated
by various
electromagnetic
configurations
such as loops_
finite
helical
solenoids,
and infinite
solenoids
has been treated
by the early classical
physicists,
but only
the simplest
cases such as the single
loop have been calculated
for the
entire
field both
inside
and outside
the loop (e.g., ref. 2).
In other
cases
such as the helical
solenoid
or the finite
solenoid
the calculations
have been limited
to the axis (ref. 3).
axis positions
have been done by Foelsch
(ref.
are obtainable
by means
of a large number
which
are valid over restricted
ranges
of

Derivations
4), and the

of the offsolutions

of approximate
expressions
size or position.
The princi-

pal difficulty
in the calculation
of the fields
of nearly
all configurations
has resulted
from the fact that the integral
solution
cannot
be achieved
without
the use of various
elliptic
integrals.
Even though
many of these are tabulated_
the calculations
involved
are laborious.
Such calculations
can, however,
be made using modern
high-speed
computers
since machine
programs
have or can be written
for many of the
elliptic
functions.

The purpose of this report is twofold:

(i) to derive the equations
of the axial and radial field at any point within or outside a finite
solenoid in terms of standard tabulated functions and (2) to plot these
fields for a number of solenoids.
SYMBOLS

A@

magnetic

coil

Br,Bz

radial

complete

current

complete

vector

potential

component

in

@-direction

magnetic

induction

component

radius
and

axial

elliptic
in each

integral,

second

kind

filament

elliptic

integral,

first

kind

k
L

coil

number

r_ e_ z

cylindrical

ho

Heuman

permeability

z_

length
of

turns

per

unit

coll

length

coordinates

lambda

function

L
2

qD

DERIVATION
Consider

a solenoid

as

shown

OF E:QUATION3
in the

L/2
_b

z,Z

follewing

sketch:

The magnetic
potential
A

field
by

due

to

this

coil

is

given

in terms

of

the

vector

(I)

=VXA

where;
for the geometry
assumed_
Then equation
(i) yields
simply

Br

only

the

A8

component

can

be

nonzero.

= _

(2)

I.

;_Ae

Bz = l _(rAe)
r

For

a single

circular

filament_

Ae

;gr

one

has

= 4_i_ifa

csR 8 d8

where
R
is the distance
from the local point
on the filament
to the
field point.
For a solenoid
made up of a series
of
n
filaments
per
unit length_
we have then

<9

L/2
cos

Ae=_/

a_o

V(z

Z)2

+'r

8 d8
+ a 2

2at

cos

or

A0= f /o
2_

where
origin

cos

+ r 2 + a 2

_ = z - Z, _
= z L/2; and
Z
to the filament.
On integrating

i o = _

cos e in

2_

8 d8

(3)

d_

+ _2

2ar

is the axial
with respect

cos

distance
from the
to
_
this becomes

+ r 2 + a 2 _ 2ar cos

__

ae

(4)

0
A more

Ae

convenient

form

= a_nilsin2_ 0 inI_

can

be

found

by

integrating

by

parts:

+
e=0
ar
+r 2 +a 2-2ar

sin?8
cos

de

e)V_2

]_+
+r 2 +a?_

2at

cos

8J{_

4
The first
_2

Ae

r2

V_2
use

term vanishes.
a 2

+ r 2 + a2
of

the

Onmultiplying

_ 2dr

cos

8 - _

_ 2dr

cos

@ -

limits

a2_ nit

eliminates

rearranging

one

term,

terms,

there

and

follows

_Ao
- _-_- =

_
sin28 + d8r2
8)V_2

cos

can now
equation

Bz, first
as in the

- 2dr

cos

The

0 d0

_ alani

from equation
equation
(5),

_ cos
r 2 + a2

2ar

cos

O(r -a
0)_'2

:os

radial

(G)

2_

evaluate
_A@/_r
case of obtazning

(5)

8] __

cos

be easily
obtained.
(Z) and yields

_
-

+ a2

_2 + r 2 + a 2 _ 2dr

_AO_

that

{+
I( a 2 + r 2 - Zar

The two magnetic-field

components
field
is found by differentiating

To get
ceeding

observing

2_

Br

the integrand by

cos

The

(4).
is

__

result_

pro-

O)dO

t- r 2 +

a2

2dr

cos

__

(7)
If

equations

Bz

_ i

_(rA8)

_r

(S)

and

2,_

(7)

are

f[

put

into

(2),

th_

result

is

_(a-0)
?cose)de
(r2
+a2 2atcos
+r2+a2 2= cos0]_+
(8)

Equations

(6)

and

(8) describe

the

magnetic

field

due

to

a finite

sole-

noid.
Numerical
results
can readily
be found by integrating
these equations
on a computer.
However,
the results
eal also be expressed
in
terms
of standard
elliptic
integrals_
which
as
already
tabulated.
This
we proceed
to do.

412.01

Consider
(noting

B r.
the

This can be
special
case

evaluated
by Ise of formulas
of
_2 = k 2) )f reference
5.

291.05
and
One has

successively,

Br

__r
"

m_.
(r +

a) 2

IK(k)

m_._._2)sn2u di:+
1(.2- - k2sn2u

I
co
O
O

+ (r + a)z

i -

K(k)
Br
O
o
ob
!

Tr

E(k)][+

2k

(9)

k J__

where
k2

4ar
(a + r) 2

_Z +

In

a similar

integrals.
First
then use formulas
successively

manner,
change
233.19

B z (eq.
the
and

(8))

can

(10)

be

reduced

variable
of integration
413.06
of reference
5.

to

standard

elliptic

to
t = cos @,
There
follows

and

Bz __

Bz

r22+

- t

a2

(1 - t _) _2 +2arr2
1

_ni
- 2_(a + r)

_k

Sz =

(a

_ [._K(k)

+ r
4ar

g_

du

(a + r)2 snZu

[k

- t

sn2u ,
a

0
n__.

+ a 2

_-

r)[

+ ]"(a

r)_l

(11)
;%(m,kj__

where

(12)
As

before,

ho(_,k

is given

) is tabulated

equation

(I0).

in references

by

5 and

For many purposes_

it is convenient
of the fields
near the axis.
As
r _ 0,
to the following
well-known
expressions:

Br

,_

_ni

[(_2

The

Heuman

lambda

function

6.
simply
to
equations

a2,3/_, -

+a2r / . ._]_+

know the variation

(9) and (ii) reduce

(13)

(1A)
_2+a2
A convenient
to i percent

approximation
for
in this range,
is

Bz =

m(l

Bz,

2k')

valid

__
whenever

r _< a

and

accurate

C
C
I
CO
0
0

where
actly

m = (i- k')/(l + k'), k' =_to equation

(14) at the axis.

k 2.

Equation

(15)

ex-

reduces

CALCULATIONS

with

Equations
(9) and (ii) are readily
written
in dimensionless
the distances
given
in units of the solenoil
radius.
Then

tions
(9) to (14)
_+
throughout.
Plots
of
-4Br/_ni , are

still

hold

the dimensionless
given in figures

made for the ratio of toll

Note that in figures
1 and
the coil radius
(r/a) and,
coil half-length
(2z/L).

but

with

ij r/a,

_h/a

replacing

form
equaa,

axial and radial

fields_
+4Bz/_ni _
1 and 2, respectively.
Calculations

length
to radius
in the range from i to
2 the radial
distance
is given in terms
the axial distance
is given in terms of

r,

were
25.
of
the

Discussion
The figures
clearly
show that increasing
solenoid
length
decreases
the radial
variation
of the axial field.
This r_sult
is expected
since
an infinitely
long solenoid
has a uniform
field
;hroughout.
For short
solenoid
lengths
(fig. l(a)),
the axial field
increases
rapidly
from
the center
to the wall for positions
near the ee:Iter of the solenoid.
In fact,
at the center
the curve approaches
very closely
that for a
simple
loop.
It should be noted that the radial
field
is always
infinite
2z/L = 1. O and
r/a = 1.
This point
corresponds
to the edge of
current
sheet and would be expected
to produce
s lch a result.
In general,
uniform
fields
with total variations
be achieved
over as much as 60 percent
of the internal
solenoid
if the length
is 25 radii
or greater.

at
the

of i percent
can
volume
of the

The calculations presented herein are limited to solenoids with infinitely

thin walls but the results can readily be used to find approximate solutions for various shaped solenoids of finite thickness with almost any current distribution.
Since superposition principles apply, it
is only necessary to approximate any odd-shaped solenoid by a number of
thin-walled solenoids and add the fields resulting from each. The accuracy of the answer is, of course, dependent on the number of separate
solenoidal rings used to approximate the actual shape.
oo

It is interesting to note that the results obtained herein for magnetic fields are closely related to the velocity fields produced by a
lifting
helicopter rotor (e.g., ref. 7). The physical model is the same
but the detailed methods of solution are widely different.
Lewis Research Center
National Aeronautics and SpaceAdministration
Cleveland, Ohio, May 23, 1960
REFERENCES
!. Bishop, AmasaS.: Project Sherwood- The U.S. Program in Controlled
Fusion. Addison-Wesley Pub., 1958.
2. Scott, William T.: The Physics of Electricity
Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1959.

and Magnetism. John

3. Mapother, Dillon E., and Snyder, JamesN.: The Axial Variation of

the Magnetic Field in Solenoids of Finite Thickness. Tech. Rep. 5,
Univ. Iii.,
Nov. 16, 1954. (Contract DA-II-O22-ORd-992.)
4. Foelsch, Kuno: Magnetfeld und Induktivitaet
einer zylindrischen
Spule. Archly f. Elektrotech., Bd. XXX, Heft 3, Mar. i0, 1936,
pp. 139-157.
5. Byrd, Paul F., and Friedman, Morris D.: Handbookof Elliptic
Integrals for Engineers and Physicists.
Springer-Verlag (Berlin), 1954.
6. Heuman,Carl: Tables of Complete Elliptic
Phys., vol. 20, Apr. 1941, pp. 127-207.

Integrals.

,our. Math.

7. Castles, Walter, Jr., and DeLeeuw,Jacob Henri: The Normal Component

of the Induced Velocity in the Vicinity of a Lifting Rotor and Some
Examples of Its Application.
NACARep. 1184, 1954.

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ffl

_F

F_
o

a,+f

J_t

!;4
.i;i

2.8

.4
Dimensionless

radial

(a)

Figure

2.

Dimensionless

L/a

radial

field,

4J r/_ni

i.

field

of

finite

solenoid.

!
r.o
o
o

17

.4

.8

1.2
Dimensionless

1.6
radial
(b)

Figure

2.

Continued.

Dimensionless

"_/a

2.0
field,
=

2.4

2.8

4Br/#ni

2.

radial

field

of

finite

solenoid.

3.2

18

I
<0
0
0

.4

.8

1.2
Dimensionless

1.6
radial

2.8

2.4

2.(,
field,

4Br, _ni

(o) L/_ = _.
Figure

2.

Continued.

Dimensionless

radial

field

of

finite

solenoid.

3.2

19

0
0
O_
I

2.8

2.6

1o

.4

.8

1.2

1.6

Dimensionless

radial

2.0
field,

2.4

2.8

4Br/_ni

(d) L/_= 4.
Figure

2.

- Continued.

Dimensionless

radial

field

of

finite

solenoid.

3.2

2O

2.8
!
QO
(D
CD

2.6

2.

2.

2. C

1.8

l.E

1.4

i.

i.(

.4

.8

1.2
Dimensionless

I.G
radial

2.0
field_

2.4

2.8

iBr/_ni

(e)L/a = _.
Figure

_,

- Continued.

Dimensionless

radial

field

of

finite

solenoid.

3.2

21

3.0

0
0

2.8

4
2.6

2.4

2.2

2.0

1.8

%
1.6

n
"_
n

1.2

1.0

.8

.6

.&

.2

(f) L/a = lO.

Fi_e

2.

Continued.

Dimensionless

radial

field

of

finite

solenoid.

22

II

:!!!

i!tt
itH
IUt
I,w

i;i!

o_
M_
lift
A

_r

i!

If'

._r
.4

.8

1.2

1.6

Dimensionless

(g)

Figure

2.

Continued.

2.0

radial

Dimensionless

L/a

field,

2.8

2.4

Z Br/_ni

15,

radial

field

of

finite

solenoid.

5.2

!
t..O
0
0

23

.4

.8

1.2
Dimensionless

Figure

hASA

- L.cFloy

}ielcl,

Va.

_-,_<.

2.

Concluded.

1.6
radial

Dimensionless

2.0
field,

radial

2.4

2.8

ABr/_ni

field

of

finite

solenoid.

3.2