Inductance

At the simplest level, inductance relates to how much energy is stored in the magnetic field when current flows:

where:

• W_m is the energy stored in the magnetic field
• L is the inductance
• i is the current flowing in the circuit

The Maxwell computes inductances associated with a structure by simulating the magnetic field that arises when various voltages and currents are applied. Then, by computing the energy stored in those fields, it can then compute the necessary inductances:

To compute inductances using this method, the B-field and H-field associated with a distribution of currents must first be computed. The magnetostatic field simulator, which computes the magnetic vector potential at all points in the problem region, performs this task.