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Use the ideal long-solenoid approximation: negligible pitch and end effects, vacuum permeability ${\mu }_0$, 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 $B_{\mathrm{in}}-B_{\mathrm{out}}={\mu }_{0}NI$. A loop wholly outside shows the outside axial field is constant with radius; requiring it to vanish far away givesThe 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 $Nl$ turns, and the magnetic flux through each is $\pi a^2{\mu }_{0}NI$. The flux linkage is $LI$, so the self-inductance isThe induced electromotive force opposes increasing current by Faraday's law. Together with Ohm's law, the circuit equation is $L\dot{I}+RI={\mathcal{E}}_0$. Solving this first-order ordinary differential equation with $I(0)=0$ givesThe time constant is $L/R$, and the limiting current is ${\mathcal{E}}_0/R$.

A solenoid is a helical winding of conducting wire. For an ideal very long winding with $N$ turns per unit length and negligible pitch, Ampère's law gives a uniform axial magnetic field $B={\mu }_{0}NI$ inside and zero field outside. Finite-length end fields and the pitch correction are excluded by this approximation. The self-inductance of a length $l$ and cross-sectional area $A$ is $L={\mu }_0{N}^{2}Al$.