Past exam of the physics B course of the University of Cambridge / 2014 / Paper 1 / Section B / B7

Applying Gauss's law for magnetism to a pillbox and Ampère's law to an interface-crossing rectangle givesHere $\hat{n}$ points from material 1 to 2 and ${\mathbf{K}}_f$ is free surface current. With no such current, $B_n$ and $H_t$ are continuous. For linear isotropic media, $B_{t2}/{\mu }_2=B_{t1}/{\mu }_1$ and ${\mu }_2{H}_{n2}={\mu }_1{H}_{n1}$. The magnetic fields need not have equal magnitudes on either side.

With negligible leakage, Gauss's law for magnetism makes each cross-section of a magnetic flux tube carry the same flux $\mathcal{F}$. High permeability guides it through the core; a short gap permits neglect of fringing. Flux conservation across these particular geometric sections is an approximation, not a consequence of zero divergence without controlling side leakage.

Let $L$ be the constant-radius arc marked in the figure, and ${\mu }_r=\mu /{\mu }_0$. For each straight taper, the radius changes linearly from $R$ to $r$, giving the reluctance of a conical magnetic poleSumming magnetic reluctances to find the gap field of a tapered electromagnet, and using $B_g=\mathcal{F}/(\pi r^2)$ givesIf $L$ is instead defined as the total magnetic-material length, replace the displayed uniform-arc length by $L-2s$. The comparison untapered core has uniform radius $R$ and material length $L+2s$, soThe original PDF specifies $s/L\ll r/R$; the TeX transcription reverses this inequality. In the printed limit the taper reluctances are small relative to that of the broad arc. The gain is approximately $[h+L/{\mu }_r]/[h+L{r}^2/({\mu }_r{R}^2)]$, approaching $(R/r{)}^2$ if the gap reluctance is also negligible. If the gap dominates, both fields instead approach $NI/h$ and the gain approaches one. magnetic saturation near the small poles, gap fringing, leakage and winding heating limit practical enhancement.