An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
English-French-Persian

A transient ejection in the → solar wind having an enhanced field, a large and smooth change in field direction, and a low → proton temperature compared to the ambient proton temperature (L. F. Burlaga, 1995, Interplanetary Magnetohydrodynamics, Oxford Univ. Press, 89-114).

→ magnetic; → cloud.

→ compass.

→ magnetic; → compass.

Of magnetic field lines, the condition for them to be connected or the process whereby they become connected or connective.

→ magnetic;→ connectivity.

A physical constant relating mechanical and electromagnetic units of measurement. It has the value of 4π × 10^-7 henry per meter. Also called the permeability of free space, or → absolute permeability.

→ magnetic; → constant.

Thermal → convection modified by the presence of magnetic fields.

→ magnetic; → convection.

In terrestrial magnetism, the difference between → true north (the axis around which the earth rotates) and magnetic north (the direction the needle of a compass will point,→ magnetic pole).

→ magnetic; → declination.

The process whereby the magnetic field tends to diffuse across the plasma and to smooth out any local inhomogeneities under the influence of a finite resistance in the plasma. For a stationary plasma the → induction equation becomes a pure → diffusion equation: ∂B/∂t = D_m∇²B, where D_m = (μ₀σ₀)^-1 is the → magnetic diffusivity.

→ magnetic; → diffusion.

The → diffusion coefficient for a magnetic field. It is expressed as: η = 1/(μ₀σ), where μ₀ is the → magnetic permeability and σ the → conductivity.

→ magnetic; → diffusivity.

In terrestrial magnetism, the angle that a → magnetic needle makes with the horizontal plane at any specific location. The angle of magnetic dip at the → magnetic poles of Earth is 90°. Also called → inclination and → dip.

→ magnetic; → dip.

A system that generates a → magnetic field in which the field is considered to result from two opposite poles, as in the north and south poles of a magnet, much as an → electric field originates from a positive and a negative charge in an → electric dipole. A loop carrying an electric current also acts as a magnetic dipole. Magnetic dipoles experience a torque in the presence of magnetic fields. → dipole moment; → magnetic moment.

→ magnetic; → dipole.

Same as → magnetic moment.

→ magnetic; → dipole; → moment.

Any of several microscopic areas in a → ferromagnetic material that possesses a net → magnetic field, because electron spins are aligned in the same direction. In the absence of an external magnetic field, the directions of the magnetization vectors of the separate domains do not coincide and the resultant magnetization of the whole body may be zero.

→ magnetic; → domain.

The energy stored in a magnetic field. It is the → work that must be done to establish a magnetic field in terms of the → magnetic induction. Magnetic energy varies as the square of the magnetic induction. It can be expressed in several other ways, for example in terms of the current and of the magnetic flux, or in terms of the current density and vector potential.

→ magnetic; → energy.

A field of force that is generated by electric currents, or, equivalently, a region in which magnetic forces can be observed.

→ magnetic; → field.

An imaginary line used for representing the strength and direction of a magnetic field. Charged particles move freely along magnetic field lines, but are inhibited by the magnetic force from moving across field lines.

→ magnetic; → field; → line.

Same as → magnetic intensity.

→ magnetic; → field; → intensity.

A measure of the quantity of magnetism or magnetic field. It is the number of lines of force passing normally through a given area. Magnetic flux is a scalar quantity defined as the surface integral of the → magnetic flux density. It is usually denoted by the Greek letter Φ and its SI unit is the → weber.

→ magnetic; → flux.

A vector quantity measuring the strength and direction of the magnetic field. It is the → magnetic flux per unit area of a magnetic field at right angles to the magnetic force. Magnetic flux density is expressed in → teslas. Also called → magnetic induction.

→ magnetic; → flux; → density.

A quantity that measures the extent to which the magnetic field lines wrap and coil around each other. It is closely related to field line topology. Magnetic helicity is defined by: H_M = ∫ A . B dV, where A is the vector potential of the magnetic field and the integration is over a volume V. → helicity; → kinetic helicity

→ magnetic; → helicity.

Same as → magnetic dip or → dip.

→ magnetic; → inclination.