oersted [Oe] Unit Converter

Definition of oersted [Oe] unit

The oersted (Oe) is the centimetre–gram–second (CGS) unit of magnetic field strength, H. In vacuum, one oersted corresponds to a magnetic field intensity producing one gauss of magnetic flux density, because B = μ₀H.

History of oersted [Oe] unit

The oersted was introduced in the electromagnetic CGS system and named after Danish physicist Hans Christian Ørsted, whose 1820 experiments demonstrated that an electric current deflects a compass needle. The unit honors his foundational discovery linking electricity and magnetism. It became commonly used with the gauss in older magnetic measurements, especially in physics and engineering. Although the SI system now expresses magnetic field strength in amperes per metre, the oersted remains familiar in magnetics, materials science, and historical technical literature, particularly when discussing coercivity and magnetic-field specifications.

Applications of oersted [Oe] unit

Today, oersteds are used mainly in describing magnetic materials and devices, including permanent magnets, recording media, transformer cores, and magnetic sensors. Manufacturers may specify coercive field strength or applied field in Oe, while scientific publications use it for compatibility with CGS data. Conversion to SI is common: 1 Oe equals approximately 79.577 amperes per metre.

Complete list of oersted [Oe] unit conversion