In a steady flow the ideal magnetohydrodynamic induction equation gives . Since both vectors have only poloidal magnetic field components, write . Axisymmetry implies
For a field regular on the axis, ; equivalently one may impose zero toroidal electromotive force. Under this physical condition, is parallel to . Write . Continuity and then give . The poloidal magnetic flux function has , so locally on each connected magnetic surface,
This regular-axis alignment of steady poloidal ideal flow needs its zero-circulation condition: axisymmetry alone does not imply this alignment on a domain excluding the axis. An explicit counterexample is available in a cylindrical annulus. Take nonzero constants , positive , and
Here , and has zero curl. The flow satisfies continuity, , and . Its acceleration and Lorentz force density vanish, so it solves the steady equations while and are perpendicular. The nonzero toroidal circulation and the axial singularity explain why this counterexample is excluded from a regular polar accretion column. The remaining derivation uses the regular, aligned branch.
For a narrow stream tube, integrating continuity gives constant . On a nonzero-flow tube the magnetohydrodynamic mass loading is constant, so . Therefore is constant and . This also follows directly from conserved magnetic flux through a flux tube.
For constant isothermal sound speed, , with arbitrary reference density . Project momentum along . The Lorentz force density has no component in that direction, and alignment implies . Thus the isothermal magnetic Bernoulli integral is
Changing only shifts the Bernoulli function by a constant. Since is constant along the magnetic field,
Differentiating the isothermal magnetic Bernoulli integral therefore gives
In the slender polar accretion column, the dipolar flux-tube area is . The decreasing axial field is a leading approximation, not an exactly solenoidal field throughout a cylinder. Indeed for that literal field. Near the axis a small radial component supplies the required radial divergence. Its magnitude is smaller by , even though its divergence is leading order. Keeping this expanding flux tube while neglecting transverse forces yields the intended one-dimensional model.
Use the positive inward speed ; the signed sonic velocity is . Conservation of mass and the Bernoulli equation give
Eliminating yields the isothermal dipolar accretion equation,
A smooth transonic branch requires both sides to vanish at its sonic point, so
This is the critical point of the flow equation; a generic subsonic solution need not cross it. A crossing in the exterior column requires , and a sonic point strictly outside the star requires . Differentiating the equation at the crossing gives . For inward accretion that accelerates toward the star, .
The reservoir boundary condition fixes . At the sonic point, and , giving
Finally use the sonic mass flux through the dipolar flux-tube area:
This rate belongs to the smooth transonic branch of the idealized column, with the supplied total loaded area. The reservoir condition alone does not force every steady solution onto this branch. A real narrow dipolar column must match an outer flow where the slender approximation ceases to apply.
Use the ideal long-solenoid approximation: negligible pitch and end effects, vacuum permeability , and negligible displacement current. By cylindrical symmetry the magnetic field is axial. An Ampère's law rectangular loop with one axial side inside and the other outside gives . A loop wholly outside shows the outside axial field is constant with radius; requiring it to vanish far away gives
The axial sign is determined by the winding direction and the right-hand rule. The small axial component of current from the spiral pitch is neglected in this idealization.
There are turns, and the magnetic flux through each is . The flux linkage is , so the self-inductance is
The induced electromotive force opposes increasing current by Faraday's law. Together with Ohm's law, the circuit equation is . Solving this first-order ordinary differential equation with gives
The time constant is , and the limiting current is .
For a moving closed circuit bounding an oriented surface , Faraday's law is
Here is the electric field, the magnetic field, the local velocity of a circuit element, and the electromagnetic electromotive force per unit charge around the circuit. The line orientation and normal obey the right-hand rule. The flux derivative is a total derivative and includes both changing field and changing surface. The term is the motional electromotive force. A battery contributes an additional non-electromagnetic source electromotive force.
For a moving circuit, Faraday's law states that the electromotive force
equals , where is the magnetic flux through any spanning surface. Choose the upward normal. The horizontal square has
so Ohm's law gives the induced current
with positive current taken counterclockwise from above.
On the edge , . The magnetic force on a current-carrying wire is , hence
The ratio of the horizontal to vertical magnitudes is , so the directed force makes angle with the vertical, with the sign fixing the horizontal side.
The horizontal forces on opposite edges cancel, while all four vertical contributions add:
This is an electromagnetic drag force opposing the motion, as required by Lenz's law. Including gravity gives
At the terminal velocity, , and the constant downward speed has magnitude
The Maxwell equation , integrated over a fixed spanning surface , gives by Stokes theorem
Thus the electromotive force and magnetic flux obey Faraday's law
For steady axisymmetric ideal flow with only poloidal components, induction implies . Axis regularity, or zero toroidal electromotive force, sets . Continuity then gives , locally on connected magnetic surfaces of the poloidal magnetic flux function. Without the zero-circulation condition, annular domains can support steady cross-field flow.
Self-inductance 2026-10-06
For a circuit whose flux linkage is proportional to its current, the self-inductance is the coefficient in . Faraday's law gives the induced electromotive force when is constant. In series with a resistance and a constant applied electromotive force, the current obeys , with time constant .