4.

4 Linear Dielectrics F
r
stable
magnetic dipole
θ
stable
superconductor
F
image dipole

4.4.1 Susceptibility, Permitivility, Dielectric Constant

r
If E is not too strong, the polarization is proportional to the field.
r r r r r r
P = χ eε 0 E (since D = ε 0 E + P , D is electric displacement from ρ free )
r r
Æ ∇× D = ∇× P = 0
P M
χ e is called the electric susceptibility. χe = , χm =
ε0E H
r r r r r
D = ε 0 E + P = ε 0 (1 + χ e )E = εE , ε is called the permittivity.

ε
εr = = 1 + χ e is called the relative permittivity, or dielectric constant.
ε0
Material Dielectric Constant Material Dielectric Constant
Vacuum 1 Benzene 2.28
Helium 1.000065 Diamond 5.7
Air 1.00054 Water 80.1
Nitrogen 1.00055 KTaNbO3 34,000
What is high K material?
+++++++++
+++++++++ +++++++++
Vacuum E εr = 2 E
--------- ---------
---------
It may discharge for an electric field higher than E.

a
Example: A metal sphere of radius a carries a charge Q. It is
b
surrounded, out to radius b, by linear dielectric material of
permittivity ε . Find the potential at the center.
r Q r Q r Q
D= rˆ Æ r > b , E = rˆ and b > r > a , E = rˆ
4πr 2
4πε 0 r 2
4πεr 2
 Q b 1
a
1  Q 1 1 1
V= ∫− dr + ∫ − 2 dr  =  − + 
4π  ε r2 εr
∞ 0 b  4π  ε 0b εb εa 
r r χεQ
b > r > a , P = χ eε 0 E = e 0 2 rˆ
4πεr
r
ρb = −∇ ⋅ P = 0
r χεQ r χεQ
r = a , σ b = P ⋅ (− rˆ ) = − e 0 2 and r = b , σ b = P ⋅ (rˆ ) = e 0 2
4πεa 4πεb

If the space is entirely filled with a homogeneous linear dielectric, then

r r E
∇ ⋅ D = ρ f and ∇ × D = 0
vacuum P
When crossing the boundary:
r r
∇× D = ∇× P ≠ 0

Example: A parallel-plate capacitor is filled with insulating ----------

material of dielectric constant ε r . What effect does this
have on its capacitance? ++++++++++
σ+ σ+ σ σ
2 AD = Aσ + Æ D+ = , E+ ,up = , E+ ,up , out = + , E+ , down = − +
2 2ε 2ε 0 2ε 0
σ− σ+ σ+ σ σ
2 AD = Aσ − Æ D− = =− , E− ,up = − , E− , down = + , E− , doun , out = +
2 2 2ε 0 2ε 2ε 0
σ σ Q Q Aε
Ein = Æ ∆V = d = d, C= = = ε r Cvacuum
ε ε Aε ∆V d

4.4.2 Boundary Value Problem with Linear Dielectrics

If we place free charge inside a linear dielectric,
r +
 ε0D 
( ) χ
r r
ρ b = −∇ ⋅ P = −∇ ⋅ χ eε 0 E = −∇ ⋅  χ e  = − e ρf

 ε  1 + χe

If we place the free charge on the boundary:

D⊥ , above − D⊥ ,below = σ f Æ ε above E⊥ , above − ε below E⊥ ,below = σ f

 ∂Vabove   ∂V 
ε above  −  − ε below  − below  = σ f , continuity: Vabove = Vbelow
 ∂n   ∂n 
Example: A sphere of homogeneous linear dielectric material is
r
placed in an otherwise uniform electric field E0 . Find the
E0
electric field inside the sphere.
Method 1:
 ∂V   ∂V 
The free charge is on the boundary Æ ε out  − out  − ε in  − in  = σ f = 0
 ∂r   ∂r 
Only bound charge exists, no free charge.
r >> R , Vout → − E0 r cosθ
∂Vin ∂V
r = R, ε = ε 0 out and Vin = Vout
∂r ∂r
A
Vout = − E0 r cosθ + cosθ , Vin = Br cosθ
r2
A  2A  3 ε − ε0
− E0 R + = BR , εB = ε 0  − E0 − 3  Æ B = − E0 , A = R 3
R 2
 R  2 + ε / ε0 2ε 0 + ε
3 3 r ∂V 3
Vin = − E0 r cosθ = − E0 z Æ E = − zˆ = E0 zˆ
2 + εr 2 + εr ∂z 2 + εr

Method 2:
r
Uniformly polarized sphere with polarization P = Pzˆ may produce electric field
r P
E=− zˆ inside.
3ε 0

r  P 
Total field inside: E =  E0 −  zˆ inducing the polarization:
 3ε 0 

r  P  3χ e r 3 3
Pzˆ = χ eε 0 E = χ eε 0  E0 −  zˆ Æ P = ε 0 E0 Æ E = E0 zˆ = E0 zˆ
 3ε 0  3 + χ e 3 + χ e 2 + ε r

Example: Suppose the entire region below the plane z = 0 is

filled with uniform linear dielectric material of susceptibility χ e .
Calculate the force on a point charge q situated a distance d
above the origin.
Considering q without dielectric material:
q 1 d
E z ,below = −
(
4πε 0 r + d
2 2
)r + d2
2

r σ
Considering dielectric material without q: σ b = P ⋅ zˆ Æ E z , above = b and
2ε 0
 σb
E z ,below = −
2ε 0

r  σ b 
Total effect: P ⋅ zˆ = σ b = χ eε 0 Ez ,below,total = χ eε 0  −
qd
−
 3
2ε 0 
 4πε 0 r + d
2 2

1 χe qd
σb = −
(
2π χ e + 2 r + d 2
2
) 3/ 2

Total bound charge:

 χe 
Qb = ∫ σ b da = − q
 χe + 2 

 χe 
Use image charge Qb = − q at z = -d to solve the problem.
χ
 e + 2 

1  q Qb 

V= + z>0
4πε 0  x 2 + y 2 + ( z − d )2 x 2 + y 2 + (z + d )
2 
 

1  q + Qb 

V= z<0
 
 x + y + (z − d ) 
4πε 0 2 2 2

r 1 qQb
attractive force on q: F = zˆ
4πε 0 (2d )2

4.4.3 Energy in Dielectric Systems

To charge up a capactor, it takes energy of
Q Q2 1
dW = VdQ Æ W = ∫ dQ = = CV 2
C 2C 2
Change of capacitance in dielectric materials:
Cdielectric = ε r Cvacuum Æ increase the energy because of an increase of charge

( ) ( )
r r r
∆W = ∫ ∆ρ f Vdτ , ρ f = ∇ ⋅ D Æ ∆W = ∫ ∆ ∇ ⋅ D Vdτ = ∫ ∇ ⋅ ∆D Vdτ

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
r r r r r r r
∇ ⋅ ∆DV = ∇ ⋅ ∆D V + ∆D ⋅ ∇V Æ ∇ ⋅ ∆D V = ∇ ⋅ ∆DV + ∆D ⋅ E

Choose V=0 at r → ∞ .

( ) ( )
r r r r 1 r r
∆W = ∫ ∆D ⋅ Edτ for a linear dielectric ∆D ⋅ E = ∆ D ⋅ E
2
 1 r r
2∫
W= D ⋅ Edτ
l

4.4.4 Forces on Dielectrics

fringing field x

Q wlσ ε 0 wl
Cvacuum = = =
V σ d d
ε0
ε 0w ε 0w
Cdielectric = ε r Cvacuum Æ C = x + εr (l − x ) = ε 0 w (ε r l − χ e x )
d d d
1 Q2
Assume that the total charge on the plate is constant ( Q = CV ), W =
2 C
dW Q 2 dC 1 2 dC ε χw
F =− = 2
= V = − 0 e V 2 attractive force
dx 2C dx 2 dx 2d

If you start from constant voltage, the work supplied by a battery must be included.
d 1 2 dQ
F =−  CV  + V
dx  2  dx
If the voltage is constant and the charge is varying, you must include the force due to
the battery for maintaining a constant voltage.
++++++++ + + + + ++++

Exercise: 4.18, 4.23, 4.28

1. Dielectric material Æ increase the capacitance of a capacitor Æ store much more

charges

2.
P
P P
E+ −
3ε 0 3ε 0
E
P
P
E E + P / ε0 P
−
ε0
E
3. Ferroelectricity: BaTiO3

ferroelectric antiferroelectric
Transition temperature?
Curie-Weiss law?