Resistive induction equation (${\partial }_t\mathbf{B}=\nabla \times (\mathbf{u}\times \mathbf{B})+\eta {\nabla }^2\mathbf{B}$)

For a solenoidal vector field $\mathbf{B}$ and constant magnetic diffusivity $\eta$, the magnetic induction equation isIt combines Faraday's law with the moving-conductor relation for electrical conductivity, neglecting displacement current. With incompressible flow, its advective form is ${\partial }_t\mathbf{B}+(\mathbf{u}\cdot \nabla )\mathbf{B}=(\mathbf{B}\cdot \nabla )\mathbf{u}+\eta {\nabla }^2\mathbf{B}$.

For scalar electrical conductivity $\sigma (\mathbf{x})$ and constant permeability ${\mu }_0$, the moving-fluid Ohm law and the quasistatic Ampere-Maxwell law give $\mathbf{E}=-\mathbf{u}\times \mathbf{B}+\eta \nabla \times \mathbf{B}$, where $\eta =1/({\mu }_0\sigma )$ is the magnetic diffusivity. Taking minus the curl and using Faraday's law of induction gives ${\partial }_t\mathbf{B}=\nabla \times (\mathbf{u}\times \mathbf{B})-\nabla \times (\eta \nabla \times \mathbf{B})$. Expanding this expression and imposing $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{B}=0$ yields the title equation. The familiar constant-diffusivity resistive induction equation omits the last term because $\nabla \eta =0$; nonrelativistic motion alone does not establish that simplification.

For a planar magnetic field written as $\mathbf{B}=\nabla \times (A\hat{\mathbf{z}})$ and a circular velocity $\mathbf{u}=s\Omega (s)\hat{\mathbf{\varphi }}$, the resistive induction equation reduces, after choosing the additive gauge transformation, to ${\partial }_{t}A+\Omega {\partial }_{\varphi }A=\eta {\nabla }^{2}A$. A Fourier mode $A=a(s,t)e^{im[\varphi -\Omega (s)t]}$ therefore obeys the equation in the title. Indeed, each radial derivative acting on the exponential replaces ${\partial }_s$ by ${\partial }_s-imt{\Omega }^{\prime }$, while the azimuthal Laplacian contributes $-m^2/s^2$. At zero magnetic diffusivity, $a$ is constant in time, but the physical magnetic field can still be amplified algebraically by differential rotation.

For solenoidal velocity and magnetic field, with constant magnetic diffusivity $\eta$, the resistive induction equation impliesThe product rule gives $D_{t}P=\mathbf{x}\cdot D_t\mathbf{B}+\mathbf{u}\cdot \mathbf{B}$ and $\Delta P=\mathbf{x}\cdot \Delta \mathbf{B}+2\nabla \cdot \mathbf{B}$. Consequently the radial velocity, through $Q$, is the source term for the radial magnetic field.

// Target: fluid-mechanics.bigb

At a spherical interface with an insulating exterior, equal magnetic permeability on both sides and no surface current, all components of the magnetic field are continuous. The solenoidal magnetic-field constraint then makes $P=\mathbf{B}\cdot \mathbf{x}$ and ${\partial }_{r}P$ continuous. A current-free exterior has $\Delta P=0$. For an isolated field decaying at infinity, its degree-$l$ spherical harmonic satisfies ${\partial }_r{P}_{lm}=-(l+1)P_{lm}/a$ at a sphere of radius $a$. This boundary condition incorporates the exterior field without setting the radial field to zero.

// Target: fluid-mechanics.bigb