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Fall 2005
4.2 A point dipole with dipole moment p~ is located at the point ~x0 . From the properties
of the derivative of a Dirac delta function, show that for calculation of the potential
or the energy of a dipole in an external field, the dipole can be described by an
effective charge density
eff (~x ) = ~
p (~x ~x0 )
We first consider the potential
Z
1
1
(~x ) =
(~x 0 )
d3 x0
0
40
|~x ~x |
Z
1
1
~ x0 3 (~x 0 ~x0 )]
=
[~
p
d3 x0
0
40
|~x ~x |
Z
1
1
3
0
~
d3 x0
=
(~x ~x0 )~
p x0
40
|~x ~x 0 |
1
1
1 p~ (~x ~x0 )
~ x0
=
p~
=
0
40
|~x ~x |
40 |~x ~x0 |3
0
~
x =~
x0
(~x )(~x ) d3 x
Z
~ 3 (~x ~x0 )](~x ) d3 x
= [~
p
Z
~ x ) d3 x
= 3 (~x ~x0 )~
p (~
W =
~ x0 ) = ~
~ x0 )
= p~ (~
p E(~
Essentially the derivative of a delta function serves to pick out derivatives of the
function that it is multiplied against. Of course, a delta function itself is rather
singular, and its derivatives are even more so. But as far as formal expressions
(or distribution theory expressions) are concerned, these manipulations are in
fact legitimate.
4.6 A nucleus with quadrupole moment Q finds itself in a cylindrically symmetric electric
field with a gradient (Ez /z)0 along the z axis at the position of the nucleus.
Q33 = eQ
1 Ey
Ez
1 Ex
2 x
2 y
z
(1)
We now make use of the fact that the (external) electric field is divergence free
~ E
~ = Ex + Ey + Ez
0=
x
y
z
and cylindrically symmetric (so that Ex /x = Ey /y) to write
Ey
1 Ez
Ex
=
=
x
y
2 z
Making this substitution in (1) allows us to write W entirely in terms of Ez /z
W =
eQ Ez
4 z
Ez
4W
4h (W/h)
=
= 2
z
e Q
ea0 (Q/a20 )
1 2 r 2
r e sin
64
a) Make a multipole expansion of the potential due to this charge density and determine all the nonvanishing multipole moments. Write down the potential at large
distances as a finite expansion in Legendre polynomials.
This charge distribution is azimuthally symmetric. As a result, only m = 0
moments will be nonvanishing. Furthermore, noting that
sin2 = 1 cos2 = 23 [P0 (cos ) P2 (cos )]
we may write down the moments
Z
ql0 = rl Yl0 (, )(r, ) r2 dr d d(cos )
r
Z
2l + 1
rl Pl (cos )(r, ) r2 dr d(cos )
= 2
4
r
Z 1
Z
2 2 2l + 1 l+4 r
r e dr
Pl (cos )[P0 (cos ) P2 (cos )] d(cos )
=
64 3
4
0
1
r
1 2l + 1
=
(l + 5)[2l,0 25 l,2 ]
48
4
As a result, we read off the only nonvanishing multipole moments
r
r
1
5
,
q20 = 6
q00 =
4
4
The multipole expansion then yields the large distance potential
Ylm (, )
1 X 4
qlm
=
40
2l + 1
rl+1
l,m
r
1 X
4
Pl (cos )
ql0
=
40
2l + 1
rl+1
l
1
1
6
=
3 P2 (cos )
40 r
r
(2)
b) Determine the potential explicitly at any point in space, and show that near the
origin, correct to r2 inclusive,
1
1
r2
(~r ) '
P2 (cos )
40 4 120
We may use a Greens function to obtain the potential at any point in space. In
general (since there are no boundaries, except at infinity)
X 4 rl
1
<
G(~x, ~x ) =
=
Ylm
(0 , 0 )Ylm (, )
l+1
0
|~x ~x |
2l + 1 r>
0
lm
Then
Z
1
(~x 0 )G(~x, ~x 0 ) d3 x0
(~x ) =
40
Z
l
1 2 2 04 r0 r<
=
dr0
r e
l+1
40 64 3 0
r>
Z 1
2
1
r
+
+ P2 (cos )
4
120
Obtaining the correct l = 2 term involves the cancellation of the first five terms in
the Taylor expansion. The leading terms in the final expression have the correct
powers of rl Pl (cos ).
4.8 A very long, right circular, cylindrical shell of dielectric constant /0 and inner and
outer radii a and b, respectively, is placed in a previously uniform electric field E0
with its axis perpendicular to the field. The medium inside and outside the cylinder
has a dielectric constant of unity.
a) Determine the potential and electric field in the three regions, neglecting end
effects.
Since the cylinder is very long, we treat this as a two-dimensional problem. In
this case, the potential admits a general expansion
X
[m m + m m ] cos(m m )
=
m
3 = Dm m cos(m),
<a
For each value of m, there are four unknowns, Am , Bm , Cm and Dm . On the other
hand, there are also four matching conditions (D and E k both at a and at b).
Note, however, that when m 6= 1 these matching conditions yield homogeneous
equations which only admit the trivial solution
Am = Bm = Cm = Dm = 0
m 6= 1
<a
3 = D cos ,
We may obtain the electric field by taking a gradient
1
E = (A2 + E0 ) cos ,
2
= E = (B + C2 ) cos ,
E =
3
E = D cos ,
1
E = (A2 E0 ) sin ,
1 2
E =
= E = (B + C2 ) sin ,
3
E = D sin ,
(3)
>b
a<<b
<a
>b
a<<b
<a
(4)
The matching at = a is
0 E3 = E2 ,
E3 = E2
or
(0 /)D B + Ca2 = 0,
D B Ca2 = 0
1 0 / 2
Ba ,
1 + 0 /
D=
2
B
1 + 0 /
(5)
E2 = E3
or
(0 /)Ab2 + B Cb2 = (0 /)E0 ,
Ab2 B Cb2 = E0
b2
(0 /)b2
1
= E0
0 /
B = E0
(1 0 /) 1
a 2
b
b2
(6)
(20 /)
where
= (1 + 0 /) 1
1 0 / a
1 + 0 / b
2 !
(7)
The potential and electric field are obtained by substituting these coefficients into
(3) and (4)
b) Sketch the lines of force for a typical case of b ' 2a.
c) Discuss the limiting forms of your solution appropriate for a solid dielectric cylinder in a uniform field, and a cylindrical cavity in a uniform dielectric.
A solid dielectric cylinder of radius b may be obtained by taking the limit a
0. In this case the expressions (6) and (7) simplify considerably. We give the
potential
(
2
0 / b x
1 = E0 x + E0 1
1+0 / 2 , > b
=
(8)
20 /
2 = E0 1+
x,
<
b
0 /
where x = cos . The potential 3 is irrelevant in this case. Here we see that the
potential 2 inside the cylinder is uniform (but corresponds to a reduced electric
field provided > 0 ). The potential outside is that of the original uniform electric
field combined with a two-dimensional dipole.
For the opposite limit, we obtain a cylindrical cavity of radius a by taking the
limit b . In this case, we end up with
(
=
20 /
0 /)20 / a x
2 = E0 1+
x E0 (1
(1+0 /)2
2 , > a
0 /
40 /
3 = E0 (1+
2 x,
0 /)
<a
At first glance, this appears to be considerably different from (8). However, note
0 = E0 (20 /)/(1+0 /).
that the physical electric field we measure as is E
In terms of E0 , we have
(
=
0 x E
0 10 / a22x , > a
2 = E
1+0 /
0 2 x,
3 = E
<a
1+0 /
0 x + E
0 1/0 a 2x , > a
2 = E
1+/0
2/0
3 = E0 1+/0 x,
<a
This agrees with (8) after the replacement 0 (and a b), as it must.