Quenching of flames by magnetic fields

Abstract

An experiment has been demonstrated to show a phenomenon involving quenching of candle flames using magnetic fields. An electromagnet with a pair of columnar magnetic poles in which inner sidepieces were hollowed out was used. Magnetic fields of 1.5 T at the brim gave a gradient of 50-300 T/m in the direction perpendicular to the pole axis when the distance of the airgap was in a range of 5-10 mm. A candle was burned in the hollowed space between magnetic poles, and candle flames were exposed to magnetic fields. The flames were quenched a few seconds after the onset of field exposures. A model, called a "magnetic curtain," was introduced to explain this phenomenon. It is assumed that the magnetic curtain is a wall of air which is formed by magnetic fields. The magnetic curtain, which is also called an "air curtain," blocks air flow in and out of the hollowed space. The interception of oxygen by the magnetic curtain quenches flames. The magnetic curtain also presses back flames and other gases.