Retarded Vector Potential

• In this approach starting from Maxwell’s equations, the differential

equations are derived.
For the time varying fields, Maxwell’s equations are
𝜕H
∇×E= −μ … … (1)
𝜕t
𝜕E
∇ × H = ԦJ + ϵ … … (2)
ρV 𝜕t
∇ .E = … . . (3)
ϵ
∇ . H = 0 … … . (4)
From equation (4) it is clear that the divergence of H is zero. But from the
vector identify “ the divergence of a curl of a vector is zero”. This clearly
indicates that to satisfy equation H must be expressed as curl of some vector.
 ∴ μ H = ∇ × A … . . (5)
Putting the value of μ H in equation (1) we get
𝜕 ∇ ×A
∇ × E= −μ
𝜕t μ
𝜕A
∇ × E= − ∇ × … … (6)
dt
𝜕A
∇ × E+∇ × =0
dt
𝜕A
∇ × E+ = 0 … … (7)
dt
According to the vector identity “curl of a grad of a scalar is always zero”. So the equation
𝜕A
(7) will be satisfied only if the term E + is defined as a gradient of a scalar.
dt
Let us introduce a scalar potential V such that
𝜕A
E+ = − ∇V … . . (8)
dt
Then the electric field strength is given by
𝜕A
E = − ∇V − … … . (9)
dt
Hence from the equations (5) and (9) it is clear that the electric field and magnetic field E and H can be
expressed in terms of a scalar potential V and a vector potential A.
Substituting the values of E and H from the equations (9) and (5) in (2) we get.
1 𝜕 𝜕A
∇ × ∇ × A =J+ ϵԦ − ∇V −
μ 𝜕t dt
Interchanging the operations
1 𝜕V 𝜕 2 A
∇ × ∇ × A = ԦJ + ϵ −∇ −
μ dt dt 2
𝜕V 𝜕2A
∇ × ∇ × A = μԦJ − μϵ ∇ − ϵμ 2 … … . (10)
dt dt
From the vector identity
∇ × ∇ × A = ∇ ∇. A − ∇2 A
𝜕V 𝜕 2A
∴ ∇2 A − ∇ ∇. A = −μԦJ + μϵ ∇ + μϵ 2 … . (11)
dt dt
Substituting the value of E from equation (9) in equation (3) we get
𝜕A ρV
∇. −∇V − =
dt ϵ
2
𝜕A ρV
∇ V + ∇. = − … . . (12)
dt ϵ
Equations 11 and 12 are differential equation in which both the unknown A
and V appear. Hence there equations are called coupled equations. Using
Helmholtz’s equations we can find the unique solution. The Helmholtz’s
theorem states that “any vector field can be defined uniquely, if curl and
divergence of field both are known at any point.
Now we may choose the divergence of A from the equation as
𝜕V
∇. A = −μϵ … … . . (13)
dt
Using Lorenz’s gauge condition in equation (11) we get
𝜕V 𝜕V 𝜕 2A
∇2 A − ∇ −μϵ = − μJ + μϵ ∇ + μϵ 2
dt dt dt
𝜕V 𝜕V 𝜕 2A
∇2 A + μϵ ∇ = − μԦJ + μϵ ∇ + μϵ 2
dt dt dt
𝜕 2 𝐴Ԧ
∴ ∇2 𝐴Ԧ − 𝜇𝜖 2 = − 𝜇𝐽Ԧ … … . (14)
𝑑𝑡
Similarly using Lorenz’s gauge condition
𝜕 . ρV
∇2 V + ∇A = −
dt ϵ
𝜕 𝜕V ρV
∇2 V + −μϵ = −
dt dt ϵ

𝜕2 V ρV
∇2 V − μϵ 2 = − --------------(15)
dt ϵ

Equations 14 and 15 are standard wave equations including source terms. The solutions are
Ԧ 1, t − R
μ J r
A r, t = න ν dv ′
4π V R
1, t − R
1 ρ V r
V r, t = න ν dv ′
4πϵ V R
These equations represent retarded potentials as time delay is involved.