Problem 4.

49 An infinitely long conducting cylinder of radius a has a surface

charge density ρs . The cylinder is surrounded by a dielectric medium with εr = 4
and contains no free charges. The tangential component of the electric field in the
region r ≥ a is given by Et = −φ̂φ cos φ /r2 . Since a static conductor cannot have any
tangential field, this must be cancelled by an externally applied electric field. Find
the surface charge density on the conductor.
Solution: Let the conducting cylinder be medium 1 and the surrounding dielectric
medium be medium 2. In medium 2,
1
E2 = r̂Er − φ̂φ cos φ ,
r2
with Er , the normal component of E2 , unknown. The surface charge density is related
to Er . To find Er , we invoke Gauss’s law in medium 2:

∇ · D2 = 0,

or
1 ∂ 1 ∂
µ ¶
1
(rEr ) + − 2 cos φ = 0,
r ∂r r ∂φ r
which leads to
∂ ∂
µ ¶
1 1
(rEr ) = cos φ =− sin φ .
∂r ∂φ r2 r2
Integrating both sides with respect to r,

∂ 1
Z Z
(rEr ) dr = − sin φ dr
∂r r2
1
rEr = sin φ ,
r
or
1
Er = sin φ .
r2
Hence,
1
E2 = r̂ sin φ .
r2
According to Eq. (4.93),
n̂2 · (D1 − D2 ) = ρs ,
where n̂2 is the normal to the boundary and points away from medium 1. Hence,
n̂2 = r̂. Also, D1 = 0 because the cylinder is a conductor. Consequently,

ρs = −r̂ · D2 |r=a
= −r̂ · ε2 E2 |r=a
· ¸¯
1
= −r̂ · εr ε0 r̂ 2 sin φ ¯¯
¯
r r=a
4ε0
= − 2 sin φ (C/m2 ).
a