Effect of Magnetic Fields on Dielectrics

Abstract

PROF. BURNS in his letter in NATURE of July 12, p. 59, observes that he has found a decrease of power factor when a magnetic field is superimposed on a dielectric, normal to the alternating electric field, and refers to my paper on dipoles (Phil. Mag., May 1930). The view that such effects may arise from the existence of a magnetic as well as a dipolar moment is tempting, although cursory consideration of magnitudes suggests that such an effect is likely to be small.