Electrical Engineering 80 (1997) 227-233 9 Springer-Verlag 1997
Exact analytical solution of the problem of two dielectric spheres
in the uniform electrostatic field
H. M. Ymeri
Contents In this paper, the exact analytical solution is
derived in bispherical coordinates for the field due to two
equal dielectric spheres, when this system is inclined at an
arbitrary angle to a uniform electrostatic field. The method
is based on the solution of a second order, inhomoge-
neous, linear difference equation using recurrence rela-
tions. Our procedure for solving this difference equation is
straightforward, and analogous to the solution of second-
order inhomogeneous linear ordinary differential equa-
tions in terms of Green's functions. The dipole moment of
this system is evaluated as a function of separation. The
numerical results obtained for the dipole moment of the
system are shown in graphical form.
Eine genoue analytische L6sung des Problems der
zwei dielektrischen Sph&en im homogenen elektro-
statischen Feld
Ubersicht In dieser Arbeit wird eine genaue analytische
L6sung in bisph~irischen Koordinaten eines durch zwei
gleiche dielektrische Sphfiren erzeugten Feldes hergeleitet.
Die Methode basiert auf die L6sung einer inhomogenen,
linearen Differenzengleichung zweiter Ordnung durch
wiederkehrende Relationen. Das L6sungsverfahren der
Differenzengleichung ist einfach und analog zur L6sung
inhomogener, linearer Differenzengleichungen zweiter
Ordnung nach Green. Das Dipolmoment des Systems wird
als eine Funktion der Entfernung zwischen den Sph~iren-
zentren berechnet. Die ffir das Dipolmoment hergeleiteten
Ergebnisse werden in graphischer Form dargestellt.
1 To illustrate our procedure, we determine the potentials
Introduction
The use of dielectric spheres and electrostatics to model
small charged particles is a starting point in a wide variety
of theories, embracing Van der Waals attraction in solids,
adhesion problems, the formation of raindrops, surface
tension in electrolytics, etc. There are two models arising
from these theories, comprising either two spheres, or a
sphere and a planar interface. Both systems are most easily
described in bispherical coordinates [1, 2], where the
spherical and planar surfaces are expressible in terms of a
single coordinate, and solutions of Laplace's equation are
obtainable by separation of variables with the weighting
function.
Received: 29 July 1996
H. M. Ymeri
Higher Technical School, University of Prishtina,
38220 MitrovicG Kosov~
227
For problems involving Dirichlet conditions on the
bispherical surfaces, solutions are in general straightfor-
ward. This is the case if above systems contain perfectly
conducting spheres or planes and the boundary conditions
involve constant values of the electrostatic potentials. Such
solutions are readily available [2], and have been used in
the evaluation of the dielectric constants of variety di-
electric materials.
When Neumann conditions are applied on the same
surface, e.g. electric field continuity between regions of
finite dielectric constants, the weighting function of the
bispherical harmonics leads to recurrence relations be-
tween the amplitudes of the complete sets of harmonics
[2]. The set of recurrence relations is equivalent to a tri-
diagonal matrix of infinite order relating the amplitudes
on one side of the spherical surface to those on the other
side. In this form, the solution of the problem by analytical
means is highly intractable.
The main purpose of this paper is to derive exact ana-
lytical solutions to such recurrence relations, and to
demonstrate the procedure involved. We view the recur-
rence relation as a second-order, inhomogeneous, linear
difference equation. Our procedure for solving this dif-
ference equation is straightforward, and analogous to the
solution of second-order inhomogeneous linear ordinary
differential equations in terms of Green's functions. This
procedure is not readily available in standard texts on
mathematical methods; but it has been previously applied
to the solution of boundary value problems involving
spheres [2].
and equivalent dipole moment of the system of two equal
dielectric spheres embedded in an infinite medium of unit
dielectric constant (free space). This system is subject to
an uniform electrostatic field of arbitrary direction. Some
numerical examples are shown graphically to illustrate the
effectiveness of the proposed method.
2
Geometry of the problem and bispherical coordinates
The system of bispherical coordinates (r/, r, (p), is shown in
Fig. 1. It is based on the properties of sets of coaxial circles
relative to the limiting points L and L~ at fixed distance
d = OL = O Y from the origin. The locus of a point P such
that the ratio PL/PL I remains constant is a circle centre C,
which defines ~/= - l o g ( P L / P L ~ ) . As P moves round the
circle, the angle r = LPU runs from - ~ to 7r. By rotating
the circle about the z-axis we obtain a sphere, and (p is the
azimuthal angle about the symmetry axis, 0 <_ q9 < 2~.
 Electrical Engineering80 0997)

0~ 3
Incident field parallel to the lines of centres
Consider two equal spheres of radius a and dielectric
constant el embedded in an infinite medium of unit di-
electric constant. When the incident field is parallel to the
increasing z-direction, the vector of electric field intensity
E0, satisfies the equation.
E0 = V(E0z) (3.1)
where E0 is the field amplitude. In terms of the bispherical
z coordinates, (2.2) and (A.8) give equivalent forms for the
228 potential
Eoz = Eo d sinh r//(cosh ~ - cos z)
= + ( c o s h t / - cos 27)1/2 21/2E0 d
oo

E(2n+ 1)Pn(cosz)e ~:(n+1/2)' , (3.2)

Fig. 1. The system of bispherical coordinates (t/, v, q)). L and L' are
n=0
the limiting points at a fixed distance d from the origin, and the
coordinates t/, z are ~ = - log(PL/PL'), z = LPU where the upper signs apply to the half-space z _> 0 (0 -> 0)
and the lower signs to the half-space z _< 0 (t/_< 0). Thus
the potentials are antisymmetric in t/. For the fields inside
If the sphere centre C is denoted by t/, then the sphere the two spheres
centre C' of the same radius corresponds to -t/. By ge- oo

ometry, ~i = • - cos 27)1/2 E AnPn(COS 27)e q:(n+l/2)~

n=0
d = rsinht/ , R = rcosht/ (2.1)
(3.3)
where d is fixed, r is the sphere radius and R is the distance
of the centre of the sphere from the origin. Distances along where the An are constant, and the upper and lower signs
the two axes correspond to refer to the regions t/>_ t/0 and t/_< -t/0, respectively. The
potential external to the spheres is a linear combination of
d sinh t/ d sin 27 (2.5) and (3.2):
Z=(cosh/7_cosz) ' P=(cosht/-cos27)
~e = EoZ + (cosh r / - cos 27)1/2
(2.2) oo

Note that the plane z = 0 correspond to r / = 0. E BnPn(cos27) sinh(n + 1/2)/7 , (3.4)

n=0
Throughout the paper we shall be considering spheres
of radius a and dielectric constants el = ~0erl, embedded where the Bn are constants, and -t/0 -< t/-< t/0.
in a medium of dielectric constant e2 = e0. Here, erl is It is sufficient to solve the boundary value problem for
relative dielectric constant of sphere, and e0 is the dielec- the sphere ~/= t/0. Continuity of the tangential electric field
tric constant of free space. The sphere in the half-space requires
z > 0 will be denoted by t / = t/0 > 0, and the second
spheres by/7 = -t/0, where from (2.1) Vil = 0
= q?el~ n0 (3.5)

d = a sinh t/0 . (2.3) Using this relation, (3.3) and (3.4) give

We define l to be the separation of the nearest points on Am = (2n + 1)21/2Eo d + 1/2Bn

the two spheres, whence B
{e (2n+l)~~ . (3.6)
l = 2a(cosht/0 - 1) (2.4)
Continuity of the normal component of the induction
by (2.1). Points outside the spheres correspond to vector is equivalent to
-t/0 _< t/_< N0, and points inside to t/_< -t/0 for z < 0 and
t/>_ t/0 for z > 0. ~./i r/=t/o ~q./e~=~0 (3.7)
Solutions of Laplace's equation are separable with a erl ~ - -- at/
weighting function (cosh t / - cos z) 1/2. The harmonics are
Applying this condition to (3.3) and (3.4) and substi-
(cosh t / - cos 27)1/2e:t-(n+89 pro(cos 27)eim~o , (2.5) tuting for the An from (3.6) gives
oo
where for single-valued solutions m and n are integers, and
BnPn(COS27){(grl - 1) sinht/0 sinh(n + 1/2)/0
the P~ are associated Legendre functions. Properties of r/=0
series of these harmonics used in the analysis are given in
the Appendix. - (2n + 1)(cosh~/0 - cos 27)
H. M. Ymeri: Exact analytical solution of the problem of two dielectric spheres in the uniform electrostatic field

9 [e,q sinh(n + 1 / 2 ) . 0 + cosh(n + 1/2).0] } with roots 1 and e -2t/~ for the ratio Gn+I,N/Gn,I,I. We reject
oo the special case t/o = 0, corresponding to spheres of infi-
= -2V2Eod(er, - 1) Z ( 2 n + 1)Pn(COS z){sinht/0 nite radius; thus the roots are distinct. A theorem due to
n=0 Perron [4] tells us that there are two fundamental solutions
of (3.15) for the ratio G,,+I,N/Gn,N that tend to e -2n0 and 1
- (2n + 1)(cosh/7o - cos z) } e (n+l/2)rl~ (3.8) respectively as n --+ co. It can then be shown from (3.15)
We multiply (3.8) by P~(cos r), integrate and use the that these two independent solutions are the continued
orthogonality conditions (A.1) and (A.3) to reduce (3.8) to fractions [4].
an inhomogeneous, second-order linear difference equa- G n + I , N _ O~n+l ~n+l " ~n+2 ~)n+2 ' ~n+3
tion,
Gn,N fin+l- fin+2- fin+a- -- Pn+1
c~nBn-1 -- f i n B n -t- 7 n B n + l = 2n, 17 = 0, 1 , . . . (3.9) (3.16) 229
where
Gn-I,N __ 7 n - 1 . gn-1 " Yn-2 . ~1'~--~0 __

]
an = n{ e -n~ - A1 e -2nn~} ] an---TN - - f i n - i - fin-2- "" fio -- qn-1 (3.17)
fin = (2n + 1) cosh ~o - A1 sinh t/o - nA1 e -2nn~ such thatpn+l --+ e-2n~ qn+l --+ 1 as n ~ oc. Thepn and qn
--(17 + 1)Z~l e -2(n+1)/~ are evaluated from the continued fractions. Note that
(3.17) is a finite fraction since ~0 = 0.
?n = (n + l ){ eno -- A1 e-2(n+l)no} The solution of (3.12) is constructed from the solutions
(3.16) and (3.17) by setting
2 n = 25/2dE o A-~f t~, , - ~ n/ + l ) e - " 2t/~ } e - 2nn o
9Gn+I,N =Pn+lGn,lv; n > N I
(3.10) (3.18)
Gn-I,N = qn-lGn,IV; n <_ N
and A1 is a dimensionless function of the relative dielectric
constant, Thus Gn,~: will be uniquely determined if GN,N is spec-
ified. The latter is obtained by substituting (3.18) in (3.12)
A1 - ~rl - 1 (3.11) for n = N, giving
~rl + I
When regarded as a recurrence relation (3.9) generates 1
(3.19)
the amplitude of the (n + 1)th bispherical harmonic from GI',r,N = (O~g q N - 1 -- f i n + "~N P N + i )
the values of the two preceding amplitudes. This coupling
Hence from (3.13) we find
of amplitude is a consequence of the weighting function
(cosh t / - c o s ~)1/2, which accounts for the nonorthogo- K-"
ec J[N
nality of the bispherical harmonics in ~. Bn
= .~_0 (~N qN-1 -- fin + VN pN+I)
The relation to (3.9) is constructed using a Green's
function method for difference equations. This method is n N-1 }
analogous to the construction of Green's functions for the an,N + H(n - N),~H+lp I + H(N- n) l~=nql
solution of second-order inhomogeneous ordinary differ-
ential equations. We define Gn,n to be the solution of the (3.20)
difference equation where
~nGn-l,N - - f i n G n , N Jr" "/nGn+l,N = (~n,N, N = O, 1, . . .
(3.12) H ( x ) = {0,1, x>0X<-0"

where 6 is the Kronecker delta. The sense of (3.12) is such

The complete expressions for the potentials follow from
that for each fixed value of N, a solution G~,N is to be
(3.3), (3.4) and (3.6) and are
found, valid for 17 = 0, 1,.... The solution of (3.9) is
oo DO

Bn = ~ Gn,N aN, rt = 0, 1 , . . , , (3.13) ~e = ( c o s h , - cos r)1/221/2 Eod Z Pn(COS z)

n=O
N=O
as may be verified by direct substitution. -{+(2n+ 1)eT(n+l/2)~+4A,~tnsinh(n+l/2).},
To construct the G~,N we utilize the complementary
difference equation for (3.12) (3.21)
O<2
~nGn-l,N -- flnGn,tr + ~nGn+l,N = 0 . (3.14) tIA = • (cosh t / - cos "r)1/22t/2 Eod Z Pn (COS "C)
There are two independent solutions of (3.14), which n=0

are determined from the solutions of the characteristic 9 { ( 2 n + 1 ) + 2[e (2n+t)"~ - 1]AllAn}e T(n+l/i)n ,
difference equation. This equation is generated from (3.14)
by taking the limit 17 --+ cxa, which (3.10) shows to be (3.22)
e-rl~ -- 2cosh,oGn,N + en~162 = 0 (3.15) where
 Electrical Engineering 80 (1997)

= ~ , { N - - (N + 1) e-2~0} e -2N~0 while the radial condition, combined with (4.5), reduces to
o()
~/1 NZ-2;=o(:~NqN-i -- ~N + 7NPN+~)
{ 6~,N + H(n - N)l=NII+lPl--
/1 H ( N - n) N-i)
1H/1ql 9
E Bnpln(c~ "c)
/I=1

"{ (erl -1) sinh t/o cosh (n + ~) t/o - (2n + l )

(3.23)
The electric field components are given by
Isinh(n+~)t/o+grlC~
Eo = - V W
whence 9 (cosh t/o - cos z) }
230
o~
Eu
Ez = cosh t / - cos z
9 ~ o'v (3.24) 23/2(erl - 1)Eod Z Pln(c~ sinh t/~ - (2n + 1)
E~ d ~ .~ /1=1

sin z &p
(cosh t/o - cos z)} e-@+89 u~ . (4.6)
Since the W are only determined to within a constant,
we change the forms of the potentials by employing the Multiplying (4.6) by pl(cos z) and integrating we obtain
expansion of unity as a series of bispherical harmonics through (A.2) and (A.4) the difference equation
(A.7). ~nBn-1 - flnBn + 7nBn+l = 2n, n = 1,2,... (4.7)
where
4 C(n = (r/-- 1){ e -u~ - A1 e -2n~~ }
Incident field perpendicular to the line of centres
We take the incident field to be parallel to the direction fin = (2n + 1) cosh t/o - A~ sinh t/o + nA1 e -2n~~
(p = O, i.e. perpendicular to the line of centres in Fig. 1, so + (n + 1)A1 e -(2n+2)~~
that
Eo = V{E0pcos (o) . (4.1) 7n = (n + 2){ e~o + Al e-(2/1+2)'o}
Referring this potential to the bispherical coordinates J~n = -25/2E0 dA1 e -2/1"~ 9 (1 - e -2~~
through (2.2) and (A.9) we have
(4.8)
Eop cos (p = Eo d sin ~ cos qff(cosh t / - cos z)
and A 1 is defined by (3.11).
= - ( c o s h t / - c o s "C)1/223/2Eod By analogy with the analysis of the previous section, the
oo solution to (4.7) for the Bn is given by (3.20) with the
Z Pin(cos z) cos (p eT(n+89~ , (4.2) above values of the parameters (4.8), and the summation
n=l starting at N = 1. The complete expressions for the po-
tentials are thus
where upper and lower signs refer to z > 0 and z _< 0,
oo
respectively. The potential is symmetric in t/and q0, but
antisymmetric in "c. Hence the forms for the potentials tl/e = _ ( c o s h t / - cos z)1/22 3/2E0 d E Pin ( c ~ "c) c o s
r~=l
inside the spheres are
{ ( 1 ) }
tiff ~- (cosh t / - cos z) 1/2 e T(n+89 + 2 A l # n c o s h n+~ t/ , (4.9)
oo
oo
E AnPln(c~ c~189 ' (4.3) W i = - (cosh t / - cosr)1/223/2Eod ~ Ply(cos z) cos (p
n=l
n=]
and external to the spheres
9 {1 + Al#n[e (2n+1)~~+ 1] } e:F(n+89n , (4.10)
We = E0p cos ~p + (cosh t / - COS17)1/2
where
( 1 )
9 Bnpln(cOsr) c o s ( o ' c o s h n +~ t/ , (4.4) e -2N'~ 9 (1 - e -2'~
/1=i
V"
/--" - & + vN
where we need only consider the sphere t / = ~0. N=I
The tangential boundary conditions on ~ = q0 gives
9 b~,n + H(n - N)1=NII+lPl + H ( N - n) lH=/1ql 9
An. e @+89 = _ 23/2Eo de-@+89
(4.11)
+ Bn cosh n + t/o , n = 1, 2 , . . . The electric field components are given by (3.24).
When the incident field makes an arbitrary angle of
(4.5) incidence with the line of centres, we can orientate the
H. M. Ymeri: Exact analytical solution of the problem of two dielectric spheres in the uniform electrostatic field

coordinate system so that the incident field direction lies
in the plane (p = 0. By decomposing the field into com-
ponents parallel to and perpendicular to the line of centres
in this plane, the potentials for the perturbed fields are the - { 2 A , E o a 3 / ( 3 - A1)s 2} cos0 .
appropriate linear combination of (3.21) to (3.23) and
(4.9) to (4.11), respectively.
5 P. =
Equivalent dipole moment for the two spheres
The perturbing parts of the potentials describing the fields
external to the two spheres represent an equivalent mul-
tipole expansion of the system. As there is no net charge
induced, the dominant term is a dipole moment. By
symmetry, the direction of the equivalent dipole is parallel
to the incident field. We determine the strength of the
dipole by examining the perturbing part of ~e, as deter-
mined in the two previous sections, at a large distance
from the system. For arbitrary incidence of the uniform
field, the equivalent dipole moment is the appropriate
linear combination of the dipole moments in the two
orthogonal directions.
Let (s, O, ~o) be spherical polar coordinates with the
same origin and symmetry axis as bispherical coordinates.
The angle q0 is common to both systems, and with refer-
ence to Fig. 1, OP = s and 0 = POC. In terms ofbispherical
coordinates
d sinh r/ d sin r
scosO = , ssinO =
(cosh t / - cos "c) (cosh 17 - cos r)
For points sufficiently far from the two spheres, the
solution of (5.1) for t/and z in terms of s and 0 can be
expressed in decreasing powers of 2 = s/d as follows:
2cos 20 2cos 2 0 . 2
coshq=l + 2~ + ~-~ ( 1 - 3 s i n 0)
The corresponding expression for a single sphere of
radius a centered at the origin is
(5.5)
Let us denote by Pn the ratio of (5.4) to twice (5.5), i.e.
oo
gXl) sinh 3(3-
t/~ Z ( 2 n + 1)Bn (5.6)
3/vLe- d .=0
Then Prr is the ratio of the dipole moment of the two-
sphere system to that of two single spheres considered 231
separately. In Fig. 2 we have shown graphically Pzr as a
function of the separation of the spheres, I/2a, where l is
the distance between nearest points on the two sphere
surfaces (2.4) and 2a the sphere diameter, for values of A1
between 0 and 1. Small values of kl correspond to er~ = 1,
and values of A1 close to 1 correspond to erl --+ co. As the
sphere separation decreases, P~I increases monotonically.
When l = 0 our solutions are not valid because of the
restriction 170 r 0. The effect o f the two spheres on one
another falls dramatically with increasing separation.
When separated by a diameter the value of Prr for At = 0.9
is within 2, 7% of twice the dipole moment for a single
sphere, and this figure falls to 0.17% for a separation of 4
diameters. For all values of kl, PzI ---* 1 as l/2a --+ oo.
(b) Incident field perpendicular to the line of centres.
Referred to the same spherical polar coordinates, the
leading terms in the perturbation potential (4.4) at large
distances from the system are
(5.1) oo
-21/2 (d/s)2 sin O. cos p ~ n (n + 1)B,, (5.7)
rz=l
or, by (2.3)
+ 0(3

--21/2 (a3/s2 d sin 0- cos (p sinh 3 t/0 ~ n(n + 1)Bn .

. 2 cos 0 2 cos 0 2 2 rt=l
sinla t t = - ~ t- ~ (cos 0 - sin 0) + / (5.8)
2sin 30 2sin 2 0 ,
cos "c= 1 - ~ y - - + ~ ( 1 - 3 cos ~ 0) -J- O(j~-6) / '
I i T
2 sin 0 2 sin 0 2 2
sin z = - - -
2
+ ---7-- (cos 0 - sin 0)
z + / 0.2
2 2 2 2 + z~ = 0.9
cosh q - cos z = ~ + ~ (cos O - sin 6)

(5.2) 0.3
0.7
since both I/and r --+ 0 as s -+ oc. m
(a) Incident field parallel to the line of centres. O.5
0.4
When (5.2) holds, the dominant terms in the perturbat- 0,3
ional potential (3.4) for s >> d are
GO
21/2 ( d / s ) Z c o s O Z ( 2 n + 1)Bn , (5.3) I L ~ .1_
rt=0 0 0,2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
I/2a
which by (2.3) can be rewritten as
Fig. 2. The normalized dipole moment Pu for two spheres when
21/2 a3 sinh3 q0 V'(~176 the incident field is parallel to the line of centers, plotted against
s2 d cos0z...~,2n + 1)Bn . (5.4) I/2a, sphere separation to diameter, for values of AI between 0
n--O and I
 ElectricalEngineering80 0997)

The corresponding expression for a single sphere in this (a) Incident field parallel to the line of centres.
case is
- 2 { A 1 E o a 3 / ( 3 - A1)s 2 } s i n 0 . cos (p . (5.9)
We define P• as the ratio of (5.8) to twice (5.9)
P• = (3 - A1) sinh 3 t/0
Z(n + 1)nBu , (5.10)
rt=l
so that P• has the same definition as PzJ.
Fig. 3 shows P= as a function of separation for values of
232 A1 between 0 and 1. When the spheres are separated by a
diameter, P• is within 1.4% of its asymptotic value for
infinite separation, and as the spheres approach one an-
other P decreases monotonically. P• ~ 1 as I/2a ~ co
for all Az.
If we compare curves in Figs 2 and 3 for the same values
of A1, the percentage increase in Pzz above 1 for a given
separation is about twice that of the corresponding de-
crease in P•
To determine the limit t/o -+ co of the constants An and
Bn, we examine (3.16) and (3.17) and find that
Gn+l,n/Gn,N ~ O, Gn-l,lq/Gn,N --+ 2 n / ( 2 n - 1 - A1) ,
(6.1)
whence (3.19) reduces to
GN,N --+ --2e-~~ + 1 -- A1) . (6.2)
With reference to (3.10), the dominant terms in (3.13)
occur when N --- 0, 1, so that the dominant B, are
Bo = -B1 = 27/2dEoAle-3n~ - A1) (6.3)
and, from (3.6), the dominant An are
Ao = 21/2Eod , A1 = 2U2Eod(9 - 7A1)/(3 - A1) 9
(6.4)
For large t/0 the potential describing the field inside the
spheres, (3.3), has the leading terms

6 tiff ~ 2-1/2A0 + 2-U2e -~ cos Z(Al - A0)

Large aspect ratio = Eod + 6e -~ cos zE0d(1 - A1)/(3 - A1) , (6.5)
The expressions for the potentials in the two previous
sections are valid for all values of cosh t/0, the ratio of from (6.4). A similar expansion of (3.2) for/7 _>/70 >> 1 is
separation of centres to sphere diameter, except t/0 = 0. In Eoz TM Eod + 2e -~ cos zE0d , (6.6)
the limit where this ratio increases indefinitely and the
radius a of the spheres remains fixed, the two spheres whence, apart from arbitrary constants, comparing (6.5)
becomes further and further apart. We would then expect and (6.6), we see that
to be able to treat the system as the linear superposition of
~ i _ 3E0z(1 - A1)/(3 - A1) , (6.7)
two spheres, where the perturbed fields are calculated from
the boundary value problem for a single sphere in a uni- which is the potential describing the field inside a single
form electrostatic field. Thus at large distances from the sphere in a uniform field.
well-separated two-spheres system, the equivalent dipole For 1 << ~ <_ t/0 the perturbation potential (3.4) imme-
moment and perturbed field will be twice the values of diately external to the two spheres reduced to
these quantities calculated for the single sphere, while
tIJ; -- 2-3/2Boe-~ + 2-3/2B1e 2~ cos'c
inside both sphere the field will be identical to the corre-
sponding field for the single sphere. -4dEoe-3~~ - A1)}egn cos z (6.8)
using (6.3). The geometrical relationships (2.2) and (2.3)
show that (6.8) to be equivalent to
1.00 t
0.1 e 2A1 (~)3Eo(z_d) (6.9)
~t'p ~ 3 -~
A __
0.98
which represents the external perturbation of the potential
for a single sphere, centre z = d.
At large distances from the spheres the potential is
0.96 given by (5.4) when t/<< 1, ~ << 1. Substituting the as-
0_4
ymptotic forms of the Bn for t/0 >> 1, (6.3), we obtain
4A1Eo ( a ) 3
0.94 T~ -~ ~-_--~ cos0 , (6.10)

which is twice the value for a single sphere (5.5). It also

0.92
follows from (5.6) that PII -~ 1 as tl0 ~ co
(b) Incident field perpendicular to the line of centres
The limit r/0 -~ co of constants A , and B, follows from
0 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00
I/2a
(3.16) and (3.17) with the definition (4.8):

Fig. 3. The normalized dipole moment P• for two spheres when Gn+I,N/Gn,N --+ 0 ,
the incident field is perpendicular to the line of centres, plotted Gn_I,N/Gn, N ----+ 2(n + 1)/(2n -- 1 -- A1) 9 (6.11)
against I/2a, sphere separation to diameter, for values of A1 be-
tween 0 and 1 Similarly,
H. M. Ymeri: Exact analytical solution of the problem of two dielectric spheres in the uniform eIectrostatic fieid

GN,N --+ --2e-~~ + 1 -- a l ) (6.12) 1 2 / l ( / 1 2 __ 1)

f Xplm(X)pl,~(x)dx
.

The dominant terms in this case occur for n = N = 1, 1 4n 2 - 1

whence 2(n + 1)(n + 2 ) n . (A.4)
{ Bl=8x/~E~176 } (6.13) + + B[ TV)
Az 6"vf2E0 d - ( A 1 - - 1)/(3 - A1) Pn(cosr) ~ 1 n(n + 1) (1 - cos T), cos 77~ 1 (A.5)
2
from (3.20), (4.5) and (4.8).
For 170 >> 1, the asymptotic form of the incident po-
. ( , + 1)
COS "r z
tential (4.2) is 2
Eop cos ~0 ~ 2Eod sin 77cos qoe-~ , (6.14) sinz(1 ( n - l)(n + 2) ( 1 - c o s z ) } 233
4
and the potential inside the spheres, (4.3), reduces to
cosz ~ 1 . (A.6)
~i =
~ 2_l/2Al sinzcoscpe_ ~ -- 3~1 s-_~1) Eop cos ~o , From the generating function
oo
(6.15) ( 1 - 2hx + h2) -1/2= ~-'~hnPn(x) , Ihl < 1
through (6.13) and (6.14), which is the single sphere result. n=0
The remaining results are identical to those of part (a) and we obtain, with h = e• and x = cos z
follow by analogy with (6.8) to (6.10).
(cosh 17 - cos 77)-t/2 = 21/2 ~ iOn(COs .c)eq:(n+89 17XO
7
r/=O
Conclusions
The exact analytical solution for the field due to two equal (A.7)
dielectric spheres, when this system is inclined at an ar- By differentiation with respect to ~ and r,
bitrary angle to a uniform electrostatic field, has been O(3
derived. The method is based on the solution a second- sinh 17 = i (cosh 17 - GOS'C)1/221/2Z ( 2 r / - t - 1)
order, inhomogeneous, linear difference equation using cosh 17 - cos -c n=0
recurrence relations. This method is analogous to the so-
lution of the second-order inhomogeneous linear ordinary - Pn(cos77)eq-(n+89 17~0 . (A.8)
differential equations in terms of Green's functions. Then,
sin "c
we determine the potentials and equivalent dipole mo- = - (cosh 17- cos 77)1/221/2
ments of the system of two dielectric spheres in external cosh17 - cosz
oo
electrostatic field. It is shown that when the sphere sepa-
ration decreases, PfI increases monotonically. When l = 0 9ZPln(cosz)e~-("+ 89 ~, 17<>0 . (A.9)
our solutions are not valid because of the restriction n=0

170 ~ 0. The effect of the two spheres on one another falls

dramatically with increasing separation.
An original exact analytical method, using difference
equations has been introduced in this paper. This method,
is quite general and may be used as a really efficient and
powerful tool in the analysis of a wide class of problems in
electrostatics.
Appendix
In the paper the following properties of Legendre func-
tions are required:
References
1. Moon P, Spencer DE (1961) Field Theory Handbook,
Springer-Verlag, Berlin
2. Ymeri HM (1992) Solution of Boundary Value Problems for
Dielectric Sphere-Sphere and Sphere-Plane Systems in the
Uniform Electrostatic Field. Bull. Tech. Univ. Istanbul
3. Lebedev NN, Skalskaya IP, Uflyand YS (1965) Problems of
Mathematical Physics, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs,
New lersey
4. Milne-Thomson LM (1960) The Calculus of Finite Differen-
ces, Macmillan, London

f X{pn(x)}2dx
1 2n+l
2 (A.1) 5. Morse PM, Feshbach H (1953) Methods of Theoretical
Physics, Part II, McGraw-Hill, New York
2n(n + 1)
f
l 1 2
l{Pn(X) } dx - 2n + l (a.2)

2n
.f' i - 4n 2 -- 1 '
2(n + 1)
+ (2n + 1)(2n + 3) c~+l,m (A.3)