Axial vectors, skew-symmetric tensors and the nature of the magnetic field
John J. Roche · European Journal of Physics · 2001
The direction assigned to the magnetic field today derives historically from magnetic navigation. The author argues that this is a null direction and that the true action of the magnetic field occurs in a plane perpendicular to the conventional direction. This has been recognized in physics since Ampère, but the momentum of tradition and the mathematical convenience of established conventions and notation appears to have prevented its widespread acceptance.