Solutions to Problems in Jackson,

Classical Electrodynamics, Third Edition

Homer Reid
March 28, 2002

Chapter 6: Problems 1-8

1
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 6 2

Problem 6.2

The charge and current densities for a single point charge q can be written formally
as
ρ(x0 , t0 ) = qδ[x0 − r(t0 )]; J(x0 , t0 ) = qv(t0 )δ[x0 − r(t0 )]
where r(t0 ) is the charge’s position at time t0 and v(t0 ) is its velocity. In evaluating
expressions involving the retarded time, one must put t0 = tret = t − R(t0 )/c, where
R = x − r(t0 ).
(a) As a preliminary to deriving the Heaviside-Feynman expressions for the electric
and magnetic fields of a point charge, show that
1
Z
d3 x0 δ[x0 − r(tret )] =
κ

where κ = 1 − v · R̂/c. Note that κ is evaluated at the retarded time.

(b) Starting with the Jefimenko generalizations of the Coulomb and Biot-Savart
laws, use the expressions for the charge and current densities for a point charge
and the result of part a to obtain the Heaviside-Feynman expressions for the
electric and magnetic fields of a point charge,
(" # " # )
q R̂ 1 ∂ R̂ 1 ∂ h v i
E= + − 2
4π0 κR2 c ∂t κR c ∂t κR ret
ret ret
and (" # " # )
µ0 q v × R̂ 1 ∂ v × R̂
B= +
4π κR2 c ∂t κR
ret ret
(c) In our notation Feynman’s expression for the electric field is
(" # " # )
q R̂ [R]ret ∂ R̂ 1 ∂2
E= + + 2 2 [R̂]ret
4π0 R2 c ∂t R2 c ∂t
ret ret
while Heaviside’s expression for the magnetic field is
(" # " # )
µ0 q v × R̂ 1 ∂ v × R̂
B= + .
4π κ2 R 2 c[R]ret ∂t κ
ret ret
Show the equivalence of the two sets of expressions for the fields.

(a) Let’s first assume that the charge is traveling along the z axis, so that its
position is given by
r(t) = (z0 + vz t)k̂.
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 6 3

The retarded time tret (t, z) at a given point z on the z axis is

z
tret (t, z) = t −
c
so
r[tret (t, z)] = (z0 + vz tret (t, z))k̂.
Hence

δ(x − r[tret (x, t)]) = δ(x)δ(y)δ {z − [z0 + vz tret (t, z)]}

n z o
= δ(x)δ(y)δ z − [z0 + vz (t − )]
c
n vz o
= δ(x)δ(y)δ z − z0 − vz t + z)]
c
n vz  o
= δ(x)δ(y)δ 1 + z − (z0 + vz t)
c
By the properties of the δ function we may write this as
   
1 z0 + v z t
= δ(x)δ(y)δ z − .
1 + vz /c 1 + vz /c

The δ function is singling out the point in space from which originates the
electromagnetic disturbance we feel at the origin at time t. Let’s think about
what’s going on here in two limiting cases. First, as vz → 0, the z delta function
becomes δ(z−(z0 +vz t)). This means that the source point for the field we feel at
the origin at time t is just z = z0 − vz t, which is of course just the instantaneous
location of the source particle at time t. In other words, the electromagnetic
disturbance left behind by the particle at time t reaches the origin so quickly
that the particle hasn’t had time to move on. The electromagnetic disturbance
seems to be coming from the instantaneous location of the particle itself.
In the opposite limit vz → c, the z delta function becomes δ(z −(z0 −vz t)/2).
This says that the point from which we feel an electromagnetic disturbance at
time t is half as far from the origin as the particle itself is at time t. This
again makes sense. At each point in the particle’s motion, the electromagnetic
disturbance it causes begins propagating toward the origin, while meanwhile
the particle continues propagating away from the origin at the same speed.
Hence when the electromagnetic disturbance has reached the origin, the particle
has traveled as far as the electromagnetic disturbance did, but in the opposite
direction, so it is now twice as far from the origin as it was when the disturbance
we are just now feeling was generated.
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 6 4

Problem 6.5

A localized electric charge distribution produces an electrostatic field, E = −∇Φ.

Into this field is placed a small localized time-independent current density J(x),
which generates a magnetic field H.
(a) Show that the momentum of these electromagnetic fields, (6.117), can be trans-
formed to
1
Z
Pfield = 2 ΦJ d3 x
c
provided the product ΦH falls of rapidly enough at large distances. How
rapidly is “rapidly enough”?
(b) Assuming that the current distribution is localized to a region small compared
to the scale of variation of the electric field, expand the electrostatic potential
in a Taylor series and show that
1
Pfield = E(0) × m,
c2
where E(0) is the electric field at the current distribution and m is the mag-
netic moment, (5.54), caused by the current.
(c) Suupose the current distribution is placed instead in a uniform electric field
E0 (filling all space). Show that, no matter how complicated is the localized
J, the result in part a is augmented by a surface integral contribution from
infinity equal to minus one-third of the result of part b, yielding
2
Pfield = E0 × m.
3c2
Compare this result with that obtained by working directly with (6.117) and
the considerations at the end of Section 5.6.

(a) From the definition of electromagnetic field momentum we have

Z
c2 Pfield = E × H dV
Z
= − (∇Φ) × H dV.

Focusing for now on the z component, we have

∂Φ ∂Φ
Z
c 2 Pz = − ( Hy − Hx ) dx dy dz (1)
∂x ∂y
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 6 5

Let’s take our volume of integration to be a cube of side L, which we will

eventually take to infinity. Integrating the first term by parts with respect to
x, we have
Z L Z L (Z L ) Z LZ L 
∂Φ ∂Hy
x=L Z
Hy dx dy dz = ΦHy  − Φ dx dy dz.

−L −L −L ∂x −L −L x=−L ∂x

Similarly integrating the second term in (1) by parts with respect to y, we may
write (1) as
Z LZ L x=L Z LZ L y=L Z
c 2 Pz = − ΦHy  dy dz + ΦHx  dx dz + Φ(∇ × H)z dV
 
−L −L x=−L −L −L y=−L
Z L Z L x=L Z L Z L y=L Z
=− ΦHy  dy dz + ΦHx  dx dz + ΦJz dV
 
−L −L x=−L −L −L y=−L

where in going to the last line we used ∇ × H = J since there is no time-

dependent E field. This equation is just the z component of
Z Z
2
c P = ΦH × dA + ΦJ dV. (2)

If we now take L → ∞, the first integral (which describes surface effects)

vanishes providing the product Φ(x)H(x) vanishes more quickly (i.e. like a
higher power of x) than x2 . Then we are left with just the second term:
Z
2
c P = ΦJ dV. (3)

(b) We have

1X ∂2Φ
Φ(x) = Φ(0) + x · ∇Φ(0) + xi xj +···
2 ∂xi ∂xj
We may arbitrarily choose Φ(0) = 0. Also, we are told that the electric field
doesn’t vary much in the region of nonvanishing J, in which case we may ignore
the second derivatives of Φ, to obtain

Φ(x) ≈ x · ∇Φ(0) = −x · E(0).

Plugging into (3), Z

c2 P = −
 
x · E(0) J dV. (4)

We have
       
− x · E(0) J = E(0) × J x − x · E(0) J − E(0) × J x
   
= E(0) × x × J − E(0) × J x
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 6 6

where in the first line we added and subtracted a term, and in the second used
the BAC-CAB identity of vector analysis. With this, (4) becomes
Z Z
c2 P = E(0) ×
  
x + J dV − E(0) × J] x dV
Z

= 2E(0) × m − E(0) × J] x dV

where in the first term we have identified the definition of the dipole moment m.
Evidently to get this to match up with what Jackson has we need to argue that
second term is exactly half the first, but I can’t see how to do this for arbitrary
J. Can anybody help?
(c) From (2) we have
Z Z
c2 P = ΦH × dA + ΦJ dV.

The second term is just equal to (E × m)/c2 , as computed in part b. For the
first term,

Problem 6.13

A parallel plate capacitor is formed of two flat rectangular perfectly conducting

sheets of dimensions a and b separated by a distance d small compared to a or b.
Current is fed in and taken out uniformly along adjacent edges of length b. With
the input current and voltage defined at this end of the capacitor, calculate the
input impedance or admittance using the field concepts of Section 6.9.
(a) Calculate the electric and magnetic fields in the capacitor correct to second
order in powers of the frequency, but neglecting fringing fields.
(b) Show that the expansion of the reactance (6.140) in powers of the frequency
to an appropriate order is the same as that obtained for a lumped circuit
consisting of a capacitance C = 0 ab/d in series with an inductance L =
µ0 ad/3b.

(a) We’ll suppose the plates are oriented parallel to the xy plane, with the lower
plate at z = 0 and the upper plate at z = d. We’ll take the edges of side a
parallel to the x axis, and the edges of side b parallel to the y axis. Then the
boundary condition on the current density is

J(0, y, 0) = −J(0, y, d) = J0 ĵ

for 0 < y < b.

Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 6 7

With neglect of fringing fields, the electric field between the plates exists
only in the z direction, while the magnetic field exists only in the x direction.
We assume harmonic time dependence and write

E(y) = E(y)e−iωt k̂ B(y) = B(y)e−iωt x̂; (5)

then time differentiation becomes multiplication by −iω. The Maxwell equa-

tions are then
∂E
∇·E=0 ⇒ =0
∂z
∂B
∇·B=0 ⇒ =0
∂x
∂B ∂E (6)
∇×E=− ⇒ = +iωB
∂t ∂y
1 ∂E ∂B iω
∇×B= 2 ⇒ =+ E.
c ∂t ∂y c2
We postulate an expansion in powers of ω for E and B:

E(y) = E0 (y) + ωE1 (y) + ω 2 E2 (y) + · · ·

(7)
B(y) = B0 (y) + ωB1 (y) + ω 2 B2 (y) + · · ·

Then the curl equations in (6) become

∂ 
E0 + ωE1 + ω 2 E2 + · · · = iω B0 + ωB1 + ω 2 B2 + · · ·
  
∂y
∂   iω 
B0 + ωB1 + ω 2 B2 + · · · = 2 E0 + ωE1 + ω 2 E2 + · · ·

∂y c
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 6 8

Equating equal powers of ω in these equations, we obtain

∂E0
=0 ⇒ E0 = α
∂y
∂B0
=0 ⇒ B0 = β
∂y
∂E1
= iB0 = iβ ⇒ E1 = iβy
∂y
∂B1 i iα iα
= 2
E0 = 2 ⇒ B1 = y
∂y c c c2
∂E2 α α
= iB1 = − 2 y ⇒ E2 = − 2 y2
∂y c 2c
∂B2 i β β
= 2 E1 = − 2 y ⇒ B2 = − 2 y2
∂y c c 2c
∂E3 iβ iβ
= iB2 = − 2 y 2 ⇒ E3 = − 2 y3
∂y 2c 6c
∂B3 i iα iα
= 2 E2 = − 4 y 2 ⇒ B3 = − 4 y3
∂y c 2c 6c
∂E4 α 3 iβ 4
= iB3 = y ⇒ E4 = y
∂y 24c4 24c2
∂B4 i β β 4
= 2 E3 = + 4 y 3 ⇒ B4 = y
∂y c 6c 24c4

and so on. Plugging into (7), we obtain

(ky)2 (ky)4 (ky)3

E(y) = α(1 − + + · · · ) + iβc(ky − + ···) (8)
2 24 6
= α cos ky + iβc sin ky (9)
iα
B(y) = β cos ky + sin ky (10)
c
where k = ω/c, and where we simply wrote down what we guessed to be the
sums of the full infinite series from their first few terms.
To complete the problem we need to determine the constants α and β, for
which purpose we appeal to the boundary conditions on the plates. We know
that the discontinuities in the E and B field are proportional to the surface
charge and current densities on the plates. Since these conditions only give
information on the differences between the fields outside and between the plates,
we ostensibly have to know what the fields are outside to get what they are
inside. But for the purposes of this problem we’ll just assume there are no
fields outside, so the charge and current densities on the plates determine the
fields inside. I know this is correct in the low-frequency limit, and in the high-
frequency limit I’m not yet sure how to compute the radiation fields in the
region outside the plates, so I will ignore them.
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 6 9

The boundary conditions are

σ
Ez = −
0
Bx = −µ0 Ky

where σ and Ky are the charge density and y component of the surface current
density on the top plate (assumed to be identical but with opposite sign on the
bottom plate). Plugging in the solutions (9) and (??), we have

σ = −0 (α cos ky + iβc sin ky)

1 iα (11)
Ky = − (β cos ky + sin ky)
µ0 c
As a sanity check, we can verify the continuity relation between charge and
current on the plates:
∂Ky ∂σ
=− = +iωσ
∂y ∂t
Plugging in (11), the left and right sides of this are

1 ikα
LHS = − (−kβ sin ky + cos ky)
µ0 c
RHS = −iω0(α cos ky + iβc sin ky)

and the two are evidently equal.

The forcing function in this problem is the surface current density specified
on the edges of length b. If the total current fed into the y = 0 edge of the top
plate is I(t) = I0 cos ωt (with an opposite current taken out of the y = 0 edge
of the bottom plate) then the surface current boundary conditions are

I0
Ky (y = 0) = cos ωt
b
Ky (y = a) = 0

Comparing with (11), we see that these boundary conditions we have to take

µ0 I 0
β=− cos ωt
b
iµ0 I0 c
α=− cos ωt cot ka
b
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 6 10

Plugging into (9) and (10),

iµ0 I0 c
Ez = − cos ωt [cot ka cos ky + sin ky]
b  
iµ0 I0 c 1
=− cos ωt [cos ka cos ky + sin ka sin ky]
b sin ka
iµ0 I0 c cos[k(y − a)]
=− cos ωt
b sin ka
µ0 I 0
Bz = − cos ωt [− cos ky + cot ka sin ky]
b
µ0 I 0 1
=− cos ωt [− sin ka cos ky + cos ka sin ky]
b sin ka
µ0 I 0 sin[k(y − a)]
=− cos ωt
b sin ka

Problem 6.14

An ideal circular parallel plate capacitor of radius a and plate separation d  a is

connected to a current source by axial leads, as shown in the sketch. The current
in the wire is I(t) = I0 cos ωt.
(a) Calculate the electric and magnetic fields between the plates to second order in
powers of the frequency (or wave number), neglecting the effects of fringing
fields.
(b) Calculate the volume integrals of we and wm that enter the definition of the
reactance X, (6.140), to second order in ω. Show that in terms of the input
current Ii , defined by Ii = −iωQ, where Q is the total charge on one plate,
these energies are

1 |Ii |2 d µ0 |Ii |2 d ω 2 a2
Z Z  
3 3
we d x = , wm d x = 1+
4π0 ω 2 a2 4π 8 12c2

(c) Show that the equivalent series circuit has C ≈ π0 a2 /d, L ≈ µ0 d/8π,
√ and
that an estimate for the resonant frequency of the system is ωres = 2 2c/a.
Compare with the first root of J0 (x).

(a) We work in cylindrical coordinates and assume harmonic time dependence

(∝ e−iωt ) for all quantities; then time differentiation is replaced by multiplica-
tion by −iω. If we neglect the effects of fringing fields, everything is symmetric
in θ, and the electric field between the plates is entirely in the z direction, while
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 6 11

the magnetic field is entirely in the θ direction:

E(x, t) = E(r, z)e−iωt ẑ B = B(r, z)e−iωt θ̂. (12)
The Maxwell equations for the fields between the plates are
∂
∇·E=0 ⇒ E=0
∂z
∂
∇·B=0 ⇒ B=0
∂θ (13)
∂B ∂E
∇×E=− ⇒ = −iωB
∂t ∂r
1 ∂E 1 ∂ iω
∇×B= 2 ⇒ (rB) = − 2 E.
c ∂t r ∂r c
To proceed, let’s propose an expansion of the fields in powers of the frequency:
E(r) = E0 (r, z) + ωE1 (r, z) + ω 2 E2 (r, z) + · · · (14)
2
B(r) = B0 (r, z) + ωB1 (r, z) + ω B2 (r, z) + · · · (15)
Then the curl equations in (13) become
∂ 
E0 + ωE1 + ω 2 E2 = −iω B0 + ωB1 + ω 2 B2
  
∂r
1 ∂  iω 
rB0 + ωrB1 + ω 2 rB2 = − 2 E0 + ωE1 + ω 2 E2
 
r ∂r c
Now we just have to go through and equate like powers of ω in these equations.
For n = 0, we have
∂E0
=0 ⇒ E 0 = α1 (16)
∂r
for some constant α1 , and
1 ∂ β
(rB0 ) = 0 ⇒ B0 = . (17)
r ∂r r
But for nonzero β this blows up at the origin. Hence we must take β = 0, so
B0 = 0. 2 For n = 1, we have
∂E1
= −iB0 = 0 ⇒ E 1 = α2 (18)
∂r
for some constant α2 , and
1 ∂ i iα1 iα1
(rB1 ) = − 2 E0 = − 2 ⇒ B1 = − r. (19)
r ∂r c c 2c2
Continuing,
∂E2 α1 α1 2
= −iB1 = − 2 r ⇒ E2 = − r (20)
∂r 2c 4c2
1 ∂ i iα2 iα2
(rB2 ) = − 2 E1 = − 2 ⇒ B2 = − 2 r (21)
r ∂r c c 2c
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 6 12

∂E3 α2 α2 2
= −iB2 = − 2 r ⇒ E3 = − r (22)
∂r 2c 4c2
1 ∂ i iα1 iα1 3
(rB3 ) = − 2 E2 = 4 r2 ⇒ B3 = r (23)
r ∂r c 4c 16c4
Evidently E2n and E2n+1 have the same form but differ by the presence of
α1 or α2 , as is true for B2n−1 and B2n . Plugging in equations (16) through (23)
into (14) and (15), we obtain

ω2 2 ω4 4

E(r) = (α1 + ωα2 ) 1 − 2
r + r +···
4c 64c4
(kr)2 (kr)4

= (α1 + ωα2 ) 1 − + +···
4 64
(kr)2
 
i kr

B(r) = − (α1 + ωα2 ) 1− +···
c 2 8
These look the first few terms in certain Bessel functions:

E(r) = (α1 + ωα2 )J0 (kr) ≡ βJ0 (kr)

i
B(r) = − βJ1 (kr)
c
where we can define the constant β = (α1 + ωα2 ) since we’re dealing with a
fixed frequency. Inserting into (12) we obtain
i
E(r, t) = βJ0 (kr)e−iωt k̂ B(r, t) = − βJ1 (kr)e−iωt θ̂. (24)
c
To work out the value of β, we need to apply the boundary conditions at the
capacitor plates. An easy way to do this is to consider what happens as ω → 0.
In that limit there is no magnetic field, and the electric field between the plates
is just Ez (t) = −2σ(t)/0 , where σ(t) is the instantaneous value of the surface
charge induced on each plate (positive on the top plate, negative on the bottom).
Now, the total charge on the top plate is just the integral of the current flowing
onto that plate:
I0
Z
q = I(t) dt = sin ωt
ω
and the surface charge is this divided by the plate area (since we are assuming a
low frequency, any charge that flows onto the plate instantaneously equilibrates
with the rest of the charge on the plate, yielding a constant surface charge
density):
I0
σ(t) = sin ωt.
πa2 ω
Hence the electric field in the low frequency limit is
2I0
Ez (ω → 0) = − sin ω.
πa2 ω0
Homer Reid’s Solutions to Jackson Problems: Chapter 6 13

Comparing this with(24) in the limit k → 0, we obtain

2I0 i
β=− .
πa2 ω0
Hence
2I0 2µ0 I0 c
E(r, t) = − J0 (kr) sin ωt k̂ B(r, t) = J1 (kr) cos ωt θ̂. (25)
πa2 ω0 πa2 ω

(b) The average energy densities are

0 2 I02  kr 2
we = E = 2 2
1− +···
4 (πa ω) 0 4
2 2
 2 
1 2 µ0 I 0 c kr (kr)2 2
wm = B = 1 − + · · ·
4µ20 (πa2 ω)2 2 8

We only have to keep the first terms in the parentheses to get the energy right
to second order in ω:
Z a
I02
Ue ≈ (2πd)(r dr)
(πa2 ω)2 0 0
I02 d
=
πa2 ω 2 0
Z a Z a
µ0 I02 c2  kr (kr)3  µ0 I02 c2  kr (kr)3 
Um = (2πd)(rdr) − + · · · U m = (2πd)(rdr) − + · · ·
(πa2 ω)2 0 2 8 (πa2 ω)2 0 2 8