Physical Considerations on Magnetostatic Energy

The author considers there are ambiguities surrounding usage of the terms ``demagnetizing energy" and ``magnetostatic energy", taking as a concrete example the physics of magnetic bubbles. Here, on considering the bubble region only, a difference in sign arises between the magnetic potential energy (negative) and the demagnetizing energy (positive). Considerations of a cylindrical magnetic body in the saturated state also turn up discrepancy arising from the use of the concept of a demagnetizing field. It is concluded that concepts such as magnetic charge and demagnetizing field may be useful for convenience's sake, but must not be used in interpreting actual physical situations.