A. F.

Peterson: Notes on Electromagnetic Fields & Waves Fields & Waves Note #9

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Electrostatic Equations and Boundary Conditions

Objectives: Review the equations assembled up to now relating the various fields with the associated charge distribution. Introduce the scalar Laplacian operator. Develop conditions on the electric field and electric flux density at material interfaces. Electrostatic Equations At this point it is appropriate to summarize the various fields that have been introduced and the equations that relate them. Our study of electrostatics began with the force field F (N) associated with a distribution of electric charge. This force field was re-normalized to yield the electric field E (V/m). An alternative normalization gave us the electric flux density D (C/m2). Finally, in Note #8 we introduced the voltage field V (V), which provides yet another way of looking at the same force field, from the perspective of a scalar rather than a vector quantity. In integral form, we have two equations that describe the static electric field and flux density:

any closed path

E dl = 0 D dS = Qenclosed

(9.1)

any closed surface

(9.2)

These integral relations involve the average values of the field over the path or surface in question. We also have two equations in differential form that involve these fields at points within a region: E = -V D = rv (9.3) (9.4)

We previously observed that (9.3) implies (9.1). In Note #7, (9.4) was obtained from (9.2) by a limiting procedure. Thus, these two sets of equations are somewhat equivalent. In conducting materials, the field and flux density satisfy E = 0, whereas, in dielectric materials, D = e 0e r E (9.6) D=0 (9.5)

A. F. Peterson: Notes on Electromagnetic Fields & Waves We observe that equations (9.4) and (9.6) could be combined together to yield (eE ) = rv and, furthermore, that (9.3) could be introduced to obtain - (eV ) = rv

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(9.7)

(9.8)

Equation (9.8) is a generalized form of Poissons equation. If the permittivity e is a constant within the region of interest, (9.8) can be rewritten as (V ) = -

rv e

(9.9)

The combination of the two derivative operators on the left-hand side of (9.9) is equivalent to (V ) = = V V V + + x x y y z z 2V 2V 2V + + x 2 y 2 z 2 (9.10)

= 2V which is known as the scalar Laplacian. Equation (9.9) can be written as 2V = -

rv e

(9.11)

Equation (9.11) is the ordinary form of Poissons equation. In a region containing nonzero fields but no charge, this equation simplifies to Laplaces equation 2V = 0 (9.12)

These differential equations are often used as a starting point to determine the distribution of the scalar potential V(x, y, z) due to a charge distribution or an applied voltage between conductors. Once V is determined, E can be found using (9.3). The scalar Laplacian operator The scalar Laplacian is given in Cartesian coordinate form in (9.10). A specific expression in the cylindrical system is

A. F. Peterson: Notes on Electromagnetic Fields & Waves 1 V 1 2V 2V + V= r + r r r r 2 f 2 z 2

2

10/04 (9.13)

while an expression in spherical coordinates is given by 2V V 1 2 V 1 1 V = 2 r sin q + + q r 2 sin 2 q f 2 r r r r 2 sin q q

2

(9.14)

Example:

The voltage field in a region is given by the function V ( x, y, z) = K - V0 xyz (9.15)

where K is an arbitrary constant. Determine if this expression for V satisfies Laplaces equation. Solution: By substitution into (9.12), we obtain 2V = = 2V 2V 2V + + x 2 y 2 z 2 2 (K - V0 xyz) 2 (K - V0 xyz) + y 2 x 2 + =0 2 (K - V0 xyz) z 2 (9.16)

In this case, V satisfies Laplaces equation. This confirms that it is a valid voltage field within a source-free region.

Electrostatic boundary conditions The integral relations in (9.1) and (9.2) can be used to determine the behavior of the electric field E and electric flux density D at material interfaces. Consider (9.1), and the interface between two different materials illustrated in Figure 1. Figure 1 shows a contour C that straddles the interface. If C is allowed to approach the interface from either side, as illustrated in the figure, an approximate evaluation of the line integral yields

A. F. Peterson: Notes on Electromagnetic Fields & Waves

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E dl @ E dl + E
1 C C1 C2 tan 1

dl

(9.17)

tan Dl ( = E Dl l + E2 l)

where E itan denotes a component tangential to the interface, on the region i side of the interface, and l is a unit tangential vector along the interface. By imposing (9.1), we obtain E1tan Dl E 2tan Dl @ 0 Since this result applies for any contour length or orientation, it follows that E1tan E 2tan = 0 (9.19) (9.18)

for fields along the interface. Thus, the tangential component of the electric field is continuous across an interface between two materials. Equation (9.19) can be specialized to two cases of interest, the case when one of the materials is a conductor, and the case where both are (lossless) dielectric materials. Suppose that region 2 is a conductor. Then, from (9.5), the field within the conductor must be zero, which implies that the tangential part near the surface is also zero: E 2tan = 0 If follows from (9.19) that the field just outside of the conductor must also satisfy E1tan surface of a conductor = 0 (9.21) (9.20)

Therefore, the tangential electric field adjacent to a conductor is zero. Equation (9.21) can be written in the equivalent form E n =0 surface of a conductor (9.22)

is the normal vector pointing out of the conductor at the point where E is where n evaluated. On the other hand, if both regions are dielectric (with region 1 having permittivity e1, and region 2 having permittivity e2), (9.19) implies that the tangential electric field E is continuous at the interface, which can also be expressed as ( E1 - E 2 ) n =0 interface Therefore, the tangential electric flux density is discontinuous, according to (9.23)

A. F. Peterson: Notes on Electromagnetic Fields & Waves

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D1 n e1

=
interface

D2 n e2

(9.24)
interface

The preceding constraints apply only to the tangential component of the electric field or flux density. To investigate the normal component, consider (9.2) and the illustration in Figure 2. Figure 2 shows a closed surface S that straddles the interface between two materials. If S is allowed to shrink down, so that one face of S resides on the region 1 side of the interface while the other remains on the region 2 side, the surface integral in (9.2) can be evaluated approximately to yield

D dS @ D dS + D dS
S S1 S2

(9.25)

@ D DA - D DA
nor 1 nor 2

where the normal direction is assumed to point into region 1. By enforcing (9.2), we obtain
nor D1nor DA - D2 DA @ Qenclosed

(9.26)

As in the preceding analysis, we may specialize this result to the case when material 2 is a conductor. In that situation, D2 = 0 (9.27)

In addition, there may be some surface charge density r s on the surface of the conductor, which is always enclosed within the surface S in Figure 2. Therefore, Qenclosed @ rsDA By combining (9.26), (9.27), and (9.28), we obtain D1nor = rs or D n = rs surface of a conductor This condition can also be expressed in terms of the electric field as E n = surface of a conductor (9.30) (9.29) (9.28)

rs e

(9.31)

where e is the permittivity adjacent to the conductor.

A. F. Peterson: Notes on Electromagnetic Fields & Waves

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In the situation when both regions are dielectric (with region 1 having permittivity e1, and region 2 having permittivity e2), equation (9.26) can be simplified since there will usually be no surface charge density at the interface. Therefore, we obtain
nor ( D1nor - D2 ) interface = 0

(9.32)

or equivalently, ( D1 - D2 ) n =0 interface This result implies that

nor (e1 E1nor - e 2 E 2 ) interface = 0

(9.33)

(9.34)

or (e1 E1 - e 2 E 2 ) n =0 interface (9.35)

These results can be used to determine the fields on one side of an interface given those on the other. In addition, they prove useful as boundary conditions to augment differential equations such as (9.11) and (9.12).

Example:

Region 2, defined by z < 0, has permittivity e2 = 4e0, while region 1 (z > 0) has e1 = 5e0. At z = 0+, the electric field is +z ) E1 = 2 E 0 ( x (9.36)

where E0 is an arbitrary constant. What is the electric field E 2 at z = 0? Solution: We first decompose the given electric field into its normal and tangential components. The normal vector pointing into region 1 is =z n Therefore, E1nor = 2 E 0 z E1tan = 2 E 0 x (9.37) (9.38)

A. F. Peterson: Notes on Electromagnetic Fields & Waves

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It follows from (9.23) that the tangential component of electric field is continuous, which implies that E 2tan = E1tan = 2 E 0 x (9.39)

From (9.34), we observe that the normal component of electric field satisfies

e 2 E 2nor = e1 E1nor
and therefore E 2nor =

(9.40)

e1 nor E e2 1 5 ) = (2 E 0 z 4 5 E0 = z 2

(9.41)

By combining the tangential and normal components together, we obtain E 2 = E 2tan + E 2nor 5 E0 + = 2 E0 x z 2 5 = E0 2 x + z 2

(9.42)

The electric field exhibits a jump discontinuity in its normal component across the interface.

Example:

The region defined by xy < 1 is a conductor. A surface charge density r s = 4e0 exists on the surface of the conductor. Find the electric field on the surface, if the medium outside the conductor is free space. Figure 3 illustrates the geometry. conductor surface is given by = n +yx xy x2 + y2 The outward normal vector to the

Solution:

(9.43)

A. F. Peterson: Notes on Electromagnetic Fields & Waves The electric field must satisfy (9.31), implying that E nor =

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rs =4 e0

(9.44)

Since the tangential component of E is zero, the entire field along the surface of the conductor is given by =4 E = E nor n +yx xy x2 + y2 (9.45)

This result holds only on the interface, where xy = 1.

Summary: boundary conditions The boundary conditions on the electric field can be combined together in a general form for convenience: ( E1 - E 2 ) n =0 interface (e1 E1 - e 2 E 2 ) n = rs interface (9.46) (9.47)

These conditions can be specialized as required to the case when one region is a conductor or when both regions are dielectric and there is no surface charge present.