Modeling maglev passenger compartment static magnetic fields from linear Halbach permanent-magnet arrays

Passenger compartment magnetic field levels in a low-speed magnetic levitation (maglev) vehicle that uses linear Halbach permanent-magnet arrays for both levitation and propulsion are computed through superposition of fields due to patches of magnetization charge at surfaces where the magnetization is discontinuous. End effects due to the finite lengths of the arrays lead to fields that decay much less rapidly with distance from the arrays than the near-field exponential decay based on array wavelength, and do not have the strong side/weak side character of the near fields. End effects dominate the maglev passenger compartment fields. Contour plots of computed fields due to the magnet arrays for a specific maglev design show field magnitudes of about 1.5 G at floor level, 0.5 G at seat level, and 0.2 G at head level.