RADIO AND LIGHT RADIATIONS FROM A MOVING CHARGED PARTICLE

Musa D. Abdullahi, U.M.Y. University

P.M.B. 2218, Katsina, Katsina State, Nigeria
E-mail: musadab@outlook.com
Abstract
The paper identified two types of electromagnetic radiations or waves. The first is light radiation
due to a moving electric charge having a component of its velocity in the direction of an electric
field, thereby encountering a resistive force, which gives rise to power radiation independent of
frequency, as in the radiation from atoms. The second is radio radiation, due to acceleration of an
electric charge producing a reactive electric field, which gives rise to power radiation proportional
to the square of frequency, as in the radiation from an antenna. While light radiation is
transmissible in seawater, as an electric current conductor, radio radiation is not
Keywords: Acceleration, electric charge, field, frequency, vector potential, radiation, velocity

1.

INTRODUCTION

In a medium with electric field E and a current of intensity J flowing, creating a magnetic field of intensity
H, the power dissipated and/or stored in a volume V or passing through area S, is given by the integrals:
P = E.J (dV ) = E H.(dS) = ( E f + Ea ) H.(dS)
(1)
V

The Poynting vector is E

H [1]. The problem of radiation is solved by determining the radiation reaction field Ef,
due motion of an electric charge in an electric field and the reactive electric field Ea due to acceleration.
For an electric charge q, at a point R, (see Fig. 1) moving with velocity v along an electric field of
magnitude E, the radiation reaction field is:
Ev
Ef =
(2)
c
where c is the speed of light in a vacuum. The radiation reaction force -qEv/c is similar to a frictional or resistive
force opposing motion, against which work done appears as light radiation..
The reactive electric field, at time t, is:.
dA
Ea = r
(3)
dt
1

where Ar is the magnetic vector potential [2] at a point P distance r from the charge at R. For a particle of charge
q, work done against the reactive force qEa is stored as kinetic energy of the particle.
The magnetic field H is obtained from the magnetic flux intensity B, as:
dA
B = o H = A r = r
(4)
dr
where is a unit vector in the RP direction and denote the curl of a vector. As a result of time r/c taken for a
cause at R to reach P distance r away, with the speed of light c, the retarded vector potential has to be used. This
brings out a second term in the expression for H, which is responsible for electromagnetic radiation.
The paper identifies two types of electromagnetic radiations or waves [3] which may be called light
radiation and radio radiation. Light radiation or wave is due to a moving electric charge having a component of its
velocity in the direction of an electric field. The result is a resistive or frictional electric field, which gives rise to
power radiation independent of frequency, as in the radiation from atoms. Radio radiation, is due to acceleration of
an electric charge producing a reactive electric field, which gives rise to power radiation proportional to the square
of frequency, as in the radiation from an antenna [4]..
.

2.

AN ELECTRICALLY CHARGED PARTICLE UNDER FREE OSCILLATION

2.1

Velocity and Magnetic Vector Potential

Consider a particle of charge q set in oscillation, in the absence of any external electric field, with angular
frequency and velocity v, about an origin O. in the direction of unit vector , as shown in Fig.1. The oscillating
charge has a potential , sets up a magnetic field H and generates a reactive electric field Ea at a point P distance r
from O. The line OP, in the direction of unit vector , makes an angle with the velocity v. Let the velocity of the
particle, at time t, be:
v = a cos t = v m cos t
(5)
where a is the displacement amplitude and vm is the amplitude of velocity. The magnetic vector potential Ao, at R,
for a charged particle moving with velocity v is:
Ao = o oUv = o oUv m cos t
(6)
where U is the constant electric potential inside the charge. Magnetic vector potential Ar, at a point P distance r
outside the charge, is given by the equation:
q
r
A r = o o v = o
v m cos t
(7)
4 r
c
:At a point P distance r from the charge, present time t must be replaced by the retarded time (t r/c), as the effect
of any displacement about O, transmitted with speed of light c, takes time r/c to reach P. Since the amplitude of
oscillation is very small, distance of the point P from the oscillating charge remains practically at r.
2

Ar
P
H

Ea

r
a
v
R q

Eo

-a
Fig.1 A particle of charge q , oscillating with velocity v, in the direction of unit vector a, about an origin O
and generating a magnetic field H and reactive electric field Ea at a point P distance r from O.

2.2.

Magnetic Field Intensity

Magnetic flux intensity B set up at a point P, distance r from the oscillating charge, is given by:
dA
B = Ar = r
dr
Magnetic field intensity H, is:
B dA r
H=
=

= o vEo sin
o o dr
where Eo is the electrostatic field of the charge and , , are unit vectors of the spherical coordinates.

2.3.

(8)

Reactive Electric Field.

The reactive electric field Ea generated by the accelerated at a point P, distance r from the charge, is given
by equation (7) as:
3

dA r o q v m
r
=
sin t
(9)
dt
4 r
c
The cross (vector) product of the electric field Ea and magnetic field H is the Poynting vector, as the power
transfer across unit area of space.
Ea =

2.4.

Poynting Vector
The Poynting vector is obtained from equations (8) and (9) as:
dA r
dA
Ea H =
r
o (dt )
dr

2.5.

(10)

Power Generation

Power transfer across a spherical surface area of radius r, is given by the integral:
dA
dA

S Ea H.(dS) = S o (dtr ) drr .(dS )

where Ar is given by equation (7) and
dA
q
q
r
r
= A r = r = o
v m cos t + o
v m sin t
2
dr
4 r
4 rc
c
c
B
q
r q
r
H=
=
v m cos t +
v m sin t
2
o
4 r
c 4 rc
c
The Poynting vector (equation 10) then becomes:
2
2
q
r
r
r
Ea H = o
v

v
)
sin
t

cos
t

+
sin t

m
m

4 r
c r
c c
c
2

2

q
r
r
Ea H = o
v

v
)

sin
2
t

+
sin 2 t

m
m

4 r
c c
c
2r
2
2

q
r
r
Ea H = o
v

v
)

sin
2
t

+
1

cos
2

m
m

t
4 r
c 2c
c
2r

(11)

(12)

q
r 1
r
r
Ea H =
(13)
o v m ( v m ) sin t cos t + sin t
4 r
c r
c c
c
Average power generation P, is:
2
2

q
r
r
P = Ea H.( dS ) = o
v

v
).

sin
2
t

+
1 cos 2 t (dS ) (14)

m
m

S
S
4 r
c 2c
c
2r
In equation (14) there is a steady term, which is responsible for energy radiation. The oscillation terms, in time t,
give zero energy dissipation over one cycle. Average power Pr radiated is given by the integral:
2

o 2 2 q

v m . v m (dS )
2c 4 r

Pr =

o vm2 2 q
2
Pr =

sin (dS )
S
2c 4 r
2

(15)
2

2 2
0 v e
v2 2 q
2
2
3
o m
Pr = o m
sin

(
dS
)
=

2c 4 r 2 r sin (d )
S
2c 4 r

(16)

where (dS) = 2r2sin(d). Integrating equation (16), we obtain:

Pr =

sin

2.6.

Directivity of Radiation

(d ) =

(17)

4
3

where

o vm2 2 q
o vm2 2 q 2
2
3

2 r sin (d ) =
2c 4 r
12 c

Maximum power intensity (power per unit area) Rm, given by equation (15) with = /2 radians, is:
o vm2 2 q 2
Rm =
(18)
32 2 r 2 c
Power intensity R emitted by an ideal isotropic radiator, over a spherical surface, gives:
v2 2q2
v 2 2eq
4 r 2 R = o m
and R = o m 2 2
(19)
12 c
48 r c
Directivity is defined as Rm/R, which gives 1.5. The direction of maximum radiation is perpendicular to the
velocity
5

2.7.

Accelerating Force and Kinetic Energy of aan Oscillating Charged Particle.

For a particle of charge q and mass m moving at time t with velocity v and acceleration dv/dt, the
accelerating force is:
dA e
q 2
dv
r
r
= o
v m sin t = m
= m v m sin t
dt
4 r
dt
c
c
The kinetic energy of the charge is contained in the magnetic field H (equation 7) and dynamic electric field Ev,
given by:
vE
Ev = o cos
(20)
c
1
1
1
1
v2 2
1
1
2
2
2 2 2
2
K = o H (dV ) + o Ev (dV ) = o o v Eo sin (dV ) + o 2 Eo cos 2 (dV ) = o o2 v 2 Eo2 (dV ) = mv 2
V
V
V
V
V
2
2
2
2
c
2
2

` qE a = q

K=

1
1
o o2 v 2 Eo2 (dV ) = o oWv 2 = mv 2

V
2
2
m
1
W=
= mc 2
2 o o 2

where W is the electrostatic energy of the charge, the work done in creating the charge and c = ( o o )
speed of light in a vacuum..

3.

(21)
(22)
1/2

is the

A CHARGED PARTICLE UNDER ACCELERATION BY A CONSTANT

ELECTRIC FIELD

Let the particle of charge q (Fig. 1) move up, in the direction of unit vector , with velocity v and
E
acceleration dv/dt at time t, in an electric field of constant magnitude E. The radiation reaction field is E f = v ,
c
dv
the reactive electric field is Ea = o o
and the magnetic field is H = o v Eo where Eo is the electrostatic
dt
field due to the moving charge. The Poynting vector P, is
E
dv
dv
E
dv
P = ( Ev + Ea ) H = v + o o ( o v Eo ) = o ( v 2 Eo v.Eo v ) + o o2 v. E o Eo . v
(23)
dt
c
dt
c
dt
6

Power transfer across surface area S, is:

E
dv
dv
P = o ( v 2 Eo v.Eo v ) + o o2 v. E o Eo . v .(dS)
S
dt
dt
c
E
dv
P = o ( v 2 Eo ) + o o2 v. Eo .(dS)
S
dt

c
E
dv
2
S oc ( v.Eo ) + o o Eo . dt v.(dS) = 0

o E

(24)

dv
qEv
dv
+ o o q v
(25)
Eo .(dS) =
S c
S
dt
c
dt
where o Eo .(dS) = q . The first term on the right hand side of equation (25); power radiated Pr due a charged
P=

v 2Eo .(dS) + o o2 v.

particle moving along an electric field of intensity E. is:

qEv 2
c
The time integral of the second term gives the kinetic energy of the charge, thus:
dv
1
1
K = o o q v (dt ) = o o q v 2 = W o o v 2 = mv 2
dt
2
2
m
1
W=
= mc 2
2 o o 2
The charged particle can be accelerated to the speed of light c and it moves with constant kinetic energy and
radiating power qEc, with maximum intensity perpendicular to the direction of motion.
Pr =

4.

(26)

(27)
(28)

A CHARGED PARTICLE OSCILLATING IN A CONSTANT ELECTRIC FIELD

Let the particle of charge q in Fig. 1 oscillate with angular frequency and velocity v in an electric field of
constant magnitude E in the direction of velocity.. The radiation reaction field is:
E
E
r
E f = v = v m cos t
(29)
c
c
c
The magnetic field H is given by equation (7) and the reactive electric field Ea, due to acceleration, is given by
equation (8). The Poynting vector is put as:

 E
r q v m
r
P = ( E f + Ea ) H = v m cos t + o
sin t H
(30)
4 r
c
c
c
E
q
r q
r
r q
r
P = v m ( v m ) cos t + o sin t
cos t +
sin t
2
c 4 r
c 4 r
c 4 rc
c
c
P = v m ( v m )

2
q E
r E
r o q
r o q
r
2
sin
2
t

+
sin 2 t

cos t 2 sin 2 t

2
4 r cr
c 2c
c 8 r
c 4 rc
c

r E o q
r
1 cos 2 t 2 +
sin 2 t (31)
8 rc
c 2c
c

In equation (31), the steady terms responsible for radiation are:

q E o q 2
P = v m ( v m )
+
(32)

4 r 2cr 8 rc
Average power radiated is:
q E o q 2
q E o q 2
Pr = v m ( v m )
+
+

.(dS) = S ( v m ) .( v m )

(dS )
S
4 r 2cr 8 rc
4 r 2cr 8 rc
P = v m ( v m )

2
q E
r o q
1
+
cos
2
t

4 r 2cr
c 8 rc

q E o q 2
q E o q 2
2
2
(
dS
)
v
sin
+
=
+

(dS )
S m
4 r 2cr 8 rc
4 r 2cr 8 rc
q E o q 2
2
2
2
Pr = vm sin
+

2 r sin (d )
S
4 r 2cr 8 rc

Pr = ( v m ) .( v m )
S

Pr = vm2
S

(33)

q E o q 2
2
3
+

2 r sin (d )
4 r 2cr 8 rc

2qvm2 E o q 2
Pr =
+

3 2c
8 c

(34)

4
3
The first tem in equation (34); independent of angular frequency , is the power radiated due to resistive or
frictional oscillation of a particle of charge q moving in an electric field of magnitude E. The second term,
dependent on 2, is the power radiated due to oscillation of the charge. In equation (34) there are two types of
where

sin

(d ) =

electromagnetic radiations, different amplitudes and 90o out of phase. If E is zero, equation (34) reduces to
equation (17).

4.6.

Directivity of Radiation

Maximum power intensity Rm, is given by equation (33) with = /2 radians, as:
vm2 q E o q 2
Rm =
+

4 r 2cr 8 rc
Power intensity R emitted by an ideal isotropic radiator, over a spherical surface, gives:
2qvm2 E o q 2
qvm2 E o q 2
2
4 r R =
+
R =
+

3 2c
8 c
6 r 2 2c
8 c
Directivity is Rm/R = 1.5

5.

(35)

(36)

AN ELECTRON REVOLVING ROUND A POSITIVELY CHARGED NUCLEUS

Figure 2 shows an electron of charge e and mass m revolving, in a radial electric field E, due to a
stationary nucleus of charge +Q at a point O. The electron, at R with its electric field Eo, sets up a potential and
magnetic field H at a far point P distance s from R and l from O. The electron moves in the Y-Z plane, under
attraction of the nucleus, with velocity v at R and angular displacement at O.

Fig.2 An electron of charge e and mass m at R evolving with speed v round a nucleus of charge +Q. The electron
sets up a potential and magnetic field H at a far point P, distance s from R, in the direction of unit vector .

Velocity of the electron, at time t, is:

d
dr
d
dr
d
v = (r ) = + r
= +r

(37)
dt
dt
dt
dt
dt
The velocity v, of the electron at R, has two orthogonal components, vc in the peripheral direction and vr in the
radial direction, thus:
d
vc = r
= r
(38)
dt
where is the angular velocity, perpendicular to the Y-Z plane (X-axis, out of the page) and:
dr
vr =
(39)
dt
The resultant of the two velocit4s, vc and vr, takes the electron into an elliptic orbit. An excited electron
revolves in an unclosed elliptic orbit with emission of radiation at the frequency of revolution, before settling into
the stable circular orbit. As the electron revolves its velocity in a given direction, the Z axis, becomes:
v z = vr cos t
(40)
Let us keep the amplitude, vr, constant as we investigate emission of radiation from the electron oscillating in its
orbit.

5.1. Radiation Reaction Field

In Fig. 2, the velocity along an electric field in the Z direction is maximum and positive at F, zero at C,
maximum and negative at D and zero at G. So vz oscillates at the frequency of revolution of the electron. In this
case the radiation reaction field for a revolving electron under force of attraction by an electric field E, is:
E
E
E f = v z = vr cos t
(41)
c
c
This is in contrast to equation (2).

5.2.

Reactive Electric Field

For a far point P distance s from R, the magnetic vector potential at P, is:
e
s
A p = o o v z = o
vr cos t
4 s
c
The reactive electric field is:
10

Ea =

dA p
dt

= o

s
vr sin t
4 s
c
e

(42)

The centripetal force -eE, due to attraction of the nucleus, on the electron, is balanced by the centrifugal force -eEa, due to
acceleration, so that the particle moves in a circle with constant speed and radius. The only remaining radial force is the
radiation reaction force Ef.

5.3.

Magnetic Field

The magnetic flux intensity B at P is given by:

dA p
e 1
s
s
= o vr
B = Ap =
cos t + sin t
ds
4 s s
c c
c
where is a unit vector in the RP direction. The magnetic field H, is:
e 1
s
s
H = vr
cos t + sin t
4 s s
c c
c

5.4.

(43)

Poynting Vector

The Poynting vector is:

E
e 1
s
s
s
vr cos t ( )vr
cos t + sin t
c
4 s s
c
c c
c
eEvr2 1
s
s
s
2
P = ( )
cos t + cos t sin t
4 sc s
c c
c
c
eEvr2 1
s
s
P = ( )
1 + cos 2 t + sin 2 t
4 sc 2 s
c 2c
c
Average power radiation is:
eEvr2
eEvr2
eEvr2
2
Pr = ( )
.
(
dS
)
=

.(

)
(
dS
)
=

S 8 s 2c
S 8 s 2c sin (dS )
S 8 s 2 c
eEvr2
eEvr2
2
2
3
Pr =
sin

(
dS
)
=

8 s 2c 2 s sin (d )
S 8 s 2 c
eEvr2
eEvr2
2
3
Pr =
2

s
sin

(
d

)
=
8 s 2 c
3c
P = Ef H =

11

(44)

(45)

where

sin

5.5.

Directivity

(d ) =

4
. What we have, in equation (41), is light radiation from an atomic particle.
3

The directivity of radiation is 1.5.There is no radiation normal to the plane of the orbit. As the electron
revolves in its orbit, the radiation is zero in the radial direction and maximum in the tangential direction.
6.

CONCLUSION

In equation (17), for a charged particle under free oscillation, the radiation power is proportional to the
square of frequency, as is the case for radiation from a radio transmission antenna. In equation (26) for a charged
particle moving along an electric field, the radiation power, for a given frequency, is independent of the frequency,
as for power dissipation in a resistor.
In equation (34) power radiation consists of two parts. There is radio radiation, due to oscillation of an
electric current, proportional to square of frequency and there is light radiation due to motion of an electric charge
in an electric field. In equation (45), there is only light radiation from an agitated electron oscillating round a
positively charged nucleus of an atom. Both radio radiation and light radiation are electromagnetic radiations,
giving rise to heat radiation, but may suffer differently for transmission in a medium other than vacuum. For
example, while light radiation is transmitted through salty seawater, radio radiation is not.
The conclusion here is that, radio radiation due to an oscillating current in an antenna and light radiation
from an orbiting electron, are different. This may explain why light is transmissible in seawater but radio waves
are not.

REFERENCES
[1].
[2]
[3]
[4]

J. Maxwell, A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism, Oxford, 3rd ed., (1892)Part iv, Chap. 2
I. Grant and W. Phillips, Electromagnetism, John Wiley & Sons, New York (2000
D Griffith; Introduction to Electrodynamics, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliff, New Jersey (1981), pp. 375
https://www.academia.edu/13672219/Electromagnetic_Radiation_from_an_Antenna

12