Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: matthewh on 05/06/2019 15:02:02

Title: Can magnetic fields be compressed?
Post by: matthewh on 05/06/2019 15:02:02

Hudd wanted to know:

Can we compress magnetic fields?


Let us know what you can unravel!

Title: Re: Can magnetic fields be compressed?
Post by: chiralSPO on 05/06/2019 15:13:05

Isn't that essentially what happens when two like poles (ie north and north, or south and south) are brought into close proximity?

Title: Re: Can magnetic fields be compressed?
Post by: evan_au on 05/06/2019 23:42:14

When stars with a magnetic field are compressed into a neutron star, the magnetic field is compressed too.
It is thought that this produces "magnetars" with extremely strong magnetic fields.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetar

One of the ways used to produce very strong magnetic transients locally is to compress a magnetic field with explosives.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explosively_pumped_flux_compression_generator