Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2024 / ib / Paper 2 / 4C / Solution

Vanishing net charge density does not require vanishing current. Positive and negative charge carriers can cancel in charge density while their oppositely directed motions add to a nonzero current. Charge conservation only requiresfor magnetostatics this becomes $\nabla \cdot J=0$.

Because $\nabla \cdot B=0$, one may introduce a magnetic vector potential withIt is not unique: $A+\nabla \chi$ gives the same field for any scalar $\chi$.

For the stated current,so it is consistent with stationary charge conservation. Direct calculation givesThus $J$ is a Beltrami field. For $\lambda \ne 0$, chooseThen $\nabla \cdot B=0$ and $\nabla \times B={\mu }_{0}J$. A convenient Coulomb-gauge potential issince $\nabla \times A=B$ and $\nabla \cdot A=0$. Gradient gauge terms may of course be added.

If $\lambda =0$, the current is the constant field $J=(0,J_0,0)$. The formulas involving $1/\lambda$ do not apply; one valid choice is

Solved by gpt-5.6-sol high.