diff --git a/src/picongpu/include/simulationControl/MySimulation.hpp b/src/picongpu/include/simulationControl/MySimulation.hpp
index a138697e6d..bbcf3328a6 100644
--- a/src/picongpu/include/simulationControl/MySimulation.hpp
+++ b/src/picongpu/include/simulationControl/MySimulation.hpp
@@ -248,6 +248,8 @@ class MySimulation : public SimulationHelper<simDim>
 
 #endif
         __delete(laser);
+        __delete(pushBGField);
+        __delete(currentBGField);
     }
 
     virtual uint32_t init()
@@ -259,6 +261,7 @@ class MySimulation : public SimulationHelper<simDim>
         fieldJ = new FieldJ(*cellDescription);
         fieldTmp = new FieldTmp(*cellDescription);
         pushBGField = new cellwiseOperation::CellwiseOperation < CORE + BORDER + GUARD > (*cellDescription);
+        currentBGField = new cellwiseOperation::CellwiseOperation < CORE + BORDER + GUARD > (*cellDescription);
 
         //std::cout<<"Grid x="<<layout.getDataSpace().x()<<" y="<<layout.getDataSpace().y()<<std::endl;
 
@@ -377,6 +380,10 @@ class MySimulation : public SimulationHelper<simDim>
 
         fieldJ->clear();
 
+        /** add "external" background current */
+        (*currentBGField)(fieldJ, nvfct::Add(), fieldBackgroundJ(fieldJ->getUnit()),
+                          currentStep, fieldBackgroundJ::activated);
+
 #if (ENABLE_IONS == 1)
         __setTransactionEvent(eRecvIons + eIons);
 #if (ENABLE_CURRENT ==1)
@@ -482,6 +489,7 @@ class MySimulation : public SimulationHelper<simDim>
     // field solver
     fieldSolver::FieldSolver* myFieldSolver;
     cellwiseOperation::CellwiseOperation< CORE + BORDER + GUARD >* pushBGField;
+    cellwiseOperation::CellwiseOperation< CORE + BORDER + GUARD >* currentBGField;
 
     // particles
 #if (ENABLE_IONS == 1)
diff --git a/src/picongpu/include/simulation_defines/param/fieldBackground.param b/src/picongpu/include/simulation_defines/param/fieldBackground.param
index ef6293ed2f..be08d84a91 100644
--- a/src/picongpu/include/simulation_defines/param/fieldBackground.param
+++ b/src/picongpu/include/simulation_defines/param/fieldBackground.param
@@ -89,4 +89,36 @@ namespace picongpu
         }
     };
 
+    class fieldBackgroundJ
+    {
+    public:
+        /* Add this additional field? */
+        static const bool activated = false;
+
+        /* We use this to calculate your SI input back to our unit system */
+        const float3_64 unitField;
+        HDINLINE fieldBackgroundJ( const float3_64 unitField_ ) : unitField(unitField_)
+        {}
+
+        /** Specify your background field J(r,t) here
+         *
+         * \param cellIdx The total cell id counted from the start at t=0
+         * \param currentStep The current time step */
+        HDINLINE float3_X
+        operator()( const DataSpace<simDim>& cellIdx,
+                    const uint32_t currentStep ) const
+        {
+            /* example: periodicity of 20 microns (=2.0e-5 m) */
+            const float_64 period_SI(20.0e-6);
+            /* calculate cells -> SI -> m to microns*/
+            const float_64 y_SI = cellIdx.y() * SI::CELL_HEIGHT_SI * 1.0e6;
+            /* note: you can also transform the time step to seconds by
+             *       multiplying with DELTA_T_SI */
+
+            /* specify your J-Field in T and convert to PIConGPU units */
+            const float_X sinArg = precisionCast<float_X>( y_SI / period_SI * 2.0 * PI );
+            return float3_X(0.0, math::cos( sinArg ) / unitField[1], 0.0);
+        }
+    };
+
 } // namespace picongpu