Diamagnetism of conductors moving in a magnetic field

Abstract

Several theoretical [1–3] and experimental [4] studies have been made of the diamagnetic perturbations during expansion of a conducting material in a magnetic field. These studies have related either to superconducting media [1], or to a strong magnetic field which has a considerable effect on the motion of the medium [2], or to a weakly ionized media, in which the effects of field variation in the medium can be neglected [3]. In the following we examine the expansion of a substance with finite conductivity in a weak (having no effect on the motion of the medium) magnetic field with account for the effects of field attenuation within the expanding matter. This occurs in the diagnostics of the state of the matter of a spark at a laser focus on the basis of diamagnetic induction signals [4]. The relations obtained in the following appear to be applicable for estimating the diamagnetic properties of meteor trails.

The method of solution of this problem may be of some interest; therefore, in the following the solution is obtained by several techniques for different basic geometries.