Paper 4, Section II, 35B

Electrodynamics | Part II, 2013

(i) For a time-dependent source, confined within a domain DD, show that the time derivative d˙\dot{d} of the dipole moment d\mathbf{d} satisfies

d˙=Dd3yJ(y)\dot{\mathbf{d}}=\int_{D} d^{3} y \mathbf{J}(\mathbf{y})

where J\mathbf{J} is the current density.

(ii) The vector potential A(x,t)\mathbf{A}(\mathbf{x}, t) due to a time-dependent source is given by

A=1rf(tr/c)k\mathbf{A}=\frac{1}{r} f(t-r / c) \mathbf{k}

where r=x0r=|\mathbf{x}| \neq 0, and k\mathbf{k} is the unit vector in the zz direction. Calculate the resulting magnetic field B(x,t)\mathbf{B}(\mathbf{x}, t). By considering the magnetic field for small rr show that the dipole moment of the effective source satisfies

μ04πd˙=f(t)k\frac{\mu_{0}}{4 \pi} \dot{\mathbf{d}}=f(t) \mathbf{k}

Calculate the asymptotic form of the magnetic field B\mathbf{B} at very large rr.

(iii) Using the equation

Et=c2×B\frac{\partial \mathbf{E}}{\partial t}=c^{2} \nabla \times \mathbf{B}

calculate E\mathbf{E} at very large rr. Show that E,B\mathbf{E}, \mathbf{B} and r^=x/x\hat{\mathbf{r}}=\mathbf{x} /|\mathbf{x}| form a right-handed triad, and moreover E=cB|\mathbf{E}|=c|\mathbf{B}|. How do E|\mathbf{E}| and B|\mathbf{B}| depend on r?r ? What is the significance of this?

(iv) Calculate the power P(θ,ϕ)P(\theta, \phi) emitted per unit solid angle and sketch its dependence on θ\theta. Show that the emitted radiation is polarised and describe how the plane of polarisation (that is, the plane in which E\mathbf{E} and r^\hat{\mathbf{r}} lie) depends on the direction of the dipole. Suppose the dipole moment has constant amplitude and constant frequency and so the radiation is monochromatic with wavelength λ\lambda. How does the emitted power depend on λ\lambda ?

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