The gauss (symbol: , sometimes Gs) is a unit of measurement of magnetic flux density, (also known as magnetic induction or magnetic field). The unit is part of the Gaussian system of units, which inherited it from the older centimetreâÂÂgramâÂÂsecond electromagnetic units (CGS-EMU) system. It was named after the German mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauss in 1936. One gauss is defined as one maxwell per square centimetre.
As the centimetreâÂÂgramâÂÂsecond system of units (cgs system) has been superseded by the International System of Units (SI), the use of the gauss has been deprecated by the standards bodies, but is still regularly used in various subfields of science, and preferred in astrophysics. The SI unit for magnetic flux density is the tesla (symbol T), which corresponds to .
Although not a component of the International System of Units, the usage of the gauss generally follows the rules for SI units. Since the name is derived from a person's name, its symbol is the uppercase letter "G". When the unit is spelled out, it is written in lowercase ("gauss"), unless it begins a sentence. The gauss may be combined with metric prefixes, such as in milligauss, mG (or mGs), or kilogauss, kG (or kGs).
The gauss is the unit of magnetic flux density in the system of Gaussian units and is equal to Mx/cm<sup>2</sup> or g/Bi/s<sup>2</sup>, while the oersted is the unit of -field. One tesla (T) corresponds to 10<sup>4</sup> gauss, and one ampere (A) per metre corresponds to 4àà10<sup>âÂÂ3</sup> oersted.