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Magnetic Boundary
Conditions
Consider the interface between two different materials with
dissimilar permeabilities:

H1 ( r ), B1 ( r )

µ1

H2 ( r ), B2 ( r )
µ2

Say that a magnetic field and a magnetic flux density is present

in both regions.

Q: How are the fields in dielectric region 1 (i.e.,

H1 ( r ) , B1 ( r ) ) related to the fields in region 2 (i.e.,
H2 ( r ) , B2 ( r ) )?

A: They must satisfy the magnetic boundary

conditions !

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

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First, let’s write the fields at the interface in terms of their

normal (e.g., Hn ( r ) ) and tangential (e.g., Ht ( r ) ) vector
components:

H1n ( r ) H1 ( r ) = H1t ( r ) + H1n ( r )

ˆan
µ1 H1t ( r )
H2t ( r )
H2n ( r )
H2 ( r ) = H2t ( r ) + H2n ( r )
µ2

Our first boundary condition states that the tangential

component of the magnetic field is continuous across a
boundary. In other words:

H1t ( rb ) = H2t ( rb )

where rb denotes to any point along the interface (e.g., material

boundary).

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

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The tangential component of the magnetic field on

one side of the material boundary is equal to the tangential
component on the other side !

We can likewise consider the magnetic flux densities on the

material interface in terms of their normal and tangential
components:

B1n ( r ) B1 ( r ) = µ1 H1 ( r )

ˆan
µ1 B1t ( r )
B2t ( r )
B2n ( r )
B2 ( r ) = µ2 H2 ( r )

µ2

The second magnetic boundary condition states that the normal

vector component of the magnetic flux density is continuous
across the material boundary. In other words:

B1n ( rb ) = B2n ( rb )

where rb denotes any point along the interface (i.e., the

material boundary).

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

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Since B ( r ) = µ H ( r ) , these boundary conditions can likewise be

expressed as:

H1t ( rb ) = H2t ( rb )

B1t ( rb ) B2t ( rb )
=
µ1 µ2

and as:

B1n ( rb ) = B2n ( rb )

µ1H1n ( rb ) = µ2H2n ( rb )

Note again the perfect analogy to the boundary conditions of

electrostatics!

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

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Finally, recall that if a layer of free charge were lying at a

dielectric boundary, the boundary condition for electric flux
density was modified such that:

aˆn ⋅ ⎡⎣D1 ( rb ) − D2 ( rb ) ⎤⎦ = ρs ( rb )
D1n ( rb ) − D2n ( rb ) = ρs ( rb )

There is an analogous problem in magnetostatics, wherein a

surface current is flowing at the interface of two magnetic
materials:

ân
H1t ( rb )
µ1 Js ( rb )

H2t ( rb )

µ2

In this case the tangential components of the magnetic field

will not be continuous!

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS

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Instead, they are related by the boundary condition:

ân x ( H1 ( rb ) − H2 ( rb ) ) = Js ( rb )

This expression means that:

1) H1t ( rb ) and H2t ( rb ) point in the same direction.

2) H1t ( rb ) and H2t ( rb ) are orthogonal to Js ( rb ) .

3) The difference between H1t ( rb ) and H2t ( rb ) is Js ( rb ) .

Recall that H ( r ) and Js (r ) have the same units—

Amperes/meter!

Note for this case, the boundary condition for the magnetic
flux density remains unchanged, i.e.:

B1n ( rb ) = B2n ( rb )

regardless of Js ( rb ) .

Jim Stiles The Univ. of Kansas Dept. of EECS