Magnetic potential

In physics, the magnetic potential is a method of representing the magnetic field by using a potential value instead of the actual mathbf{B} vector field. There are two methods of relating the magnetic field to a potential field and they give rise to two possible types of magnetic potential.

Four dimensional potentials

In special relativity, the magnetic potential joins with the electric potential into the electromagnetic potential. This may be done by joining a scalar electric potential with a vector magnetic potential or by joining a scalar magnetic potential with a vector electric potential. Either way, the final result must have 4 dimensions. The former method is more popular because the scalar electric potential is widely familiar as voltage and because the concept of vector electric potential is just too weird to exist in the same universe as decent common-sense folks.

Related Topics:
Special relativity - Electric potential - Electromagnetic potential - Voltage

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In four dimensional notation, the Lorentz guage may be written more concisely by using the D'Alembertian and the four-current, J:

Related Topics:
D'Alembertian - Four-current

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:Box^2 A_mu = rac{4 pi}{c} J_mu

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in Gaussian units.

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