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6.641 Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion

Spring 2009

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6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Prof. Markus Zahn Lecture 10: Solutions to Laplaces Equation In Cartesian Coordinates

I. Poissons Equation
E = 0 E =

iE=

i ( ) = 2 =

(Poissons Equation)

II. Particular and Homogeneous Solutions

2P =
h = 0 2 ( P + h ) =
2

Poissons Equation P r = Laplaces Equation

(r') dV ' ( ) 4 r - r'

V'

= P + h must satisfy boundary conditions

III. Uniqueness of Solutions

Try 2 solutions a and b

2 a 2b
= =

2 ( a b ) = 0
d = a b 2 d = 0 d = 0

i d d = d 2 d + d i d = d
i
d

d dV =

d i da =

dV = 0

on S, d = 0 or d i da = 0
d = 0 a = b on S d i da = 0 a b on SE = n n
= E nb on S

na

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 10 Page 1 of 8

A problem is uniquely posed when the potential or the normal derivative of the potential (normal component of electric field) is specified on the surface surrounding the volume. IV. Boundary Conditions 1. Gauss Continuity Condition

D i da =
S

sf

dS (D2n D1n ) dS = sf dS

n i D2 D1 = sf

2. Continuity of Tangential E

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 10 Page 2 of 8

E i ds = (E

1t

E2t ) dl = 0 E1t E2t = 0

n E1 E2 = 0

Equivalent to 1 = 2 along boundary V. Solutions to Laplaces Equation in Cartesian Coordinates, ( x, y )

2 ( x, y ) = 2 2 + =0 x 2 y 2

1. Try product solution: ( x, y ) = ( x ) Y ( y )

Y (y ) d2 ( x ) Y dx
2

+ X (x )

d2 dy

(y ) = 0

Multiply through by 1 :

XY

1 d2 1 d2 Y = = k
2 2 X dx Y dy 2

only a function of x

only a function of y
;

k=separation constant

d2 = k2 dx 2

d2 Y = k 2 Y
dy 2

2. Zero Separation Constant Solutions: k=0

d2 = 0 = a1 x + b 1 dx 2 d2 Y = 0 Y = c 1 y + d1 dy 2
( x, y ) = Y = a2 + b 2 x + c 2 y + d2 xy

3. Non-Zero Separation Constant Solutions: k0

d2 + k2 = 0 dx 2 X = A 1 sin kx + A 2 cos kx

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 10 Page 3 of 8

d2 Y k2Y = 0 dy 2

Y = B 1 e ky + B 2 e -ky

= C 1 sinh ky + D1 cosh ky

( x, y ) = ( x ) Y ( y ) = D 1 sin kxe ky + D 2 sin kxe -ky + D 3 cos kxe ky + D 4 cos kxe -ky

= E1 sin kx sinh ky + E 2 sin kx cosh ky + E 3 cos kx sinh ky + E 4 cos kx cosh ky

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 10 Page 4 of 8

4. Parallel Plate Electrodes

Neglecting end effects, ( x ) . Boundary conditions are:

( x = 0 ) = 0 , ( x = d ) = d

Try zero separation constant solution:

( x ) = a1 x + b 1 ( x = 0 ) = 0 = b1
( x = d ) = d = a1 d + b 1 (x ) = d 0 x + 0 d d d (Electric field is uniform and equal to potential = 0 dx d a1 = d 0 d

Ex =

difference divided by spacing)

5. Hyperbolic Electrode Boundary Conditions

( xy = ab ) = V0 ( x = 0, y ) = 0 ( x, y = 0 ) = 0
( x, y ) = V0 xy
( ab )
E = = = V0 ab i x x i
y y

y i x + x i y

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 10 Page 5 of 8

Electric field lines:

Ey dy x = = dx Ex y ydy = xdx y2 x2 +C = 2 2

y 2 = x 2 + y 2 x 2 (field line passes through (x0, y0)) 0 0

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 10 Page 6 of 8

6. Spatially Periodic Potential Sheet

V0
sin ay e -ax ( x, y ) = V sin ay e +ax 0

x 0
x 0

E = ( x, y ) = i + i x x y y
-ax -V0 a e cos ay i y sin ay i x = -V0 a e ax cos ay i y + sin ay i x

x > 0

x < 0

s ( x = 0 ) = 0 E x ( x = 0 + ) E x ( x = 0 - ) = 2 0 V0 a sin ay

Electric Field Lines:

cot ay Ey dy
= = dx Ex +cot ay

x > 0
x<0

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 10 Page 7 of 8

x > 0 x < 0

cos ay e -ax = constant cos ay e +ax = constant

6.641, Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion Prof. Markus Zahn

Lecture 10 Page 8 of 8