4.

5 Polarisation o f a Sphere in an Electric Field Eo 101

One should note that in Fig. 4.9(a) the behaviour of the D-lines in the
interior: E + 00, Ei + 0, but D = E E = ~ finite.
The limiting case 2 <<< 1: In this case we have

3
Ei= 2 3E1
+ 2 E 1 Eo -Eo,
2

but D = E E ,so that D2 = ~ 2 E 2= &Eo is small for 2 -+ 0. In this case

N

the D-field is expelled from the sphere, as indicated in Fig. 4.11. This is the
electric analogy to a superconductor in magnetism.
Finally we ask: How d o lines of E differ f r o m lines of D? D-lines
cannot be created at the boundary since V . D = 0 (no external charges). In
the interior as

Fig. 4.11 Expulsion of lines of D for 2 -+ 0.

well as the exterior of the sphere, P is parallel to E, if the dielectric is

isotropic, i.e. P = xE. In the nonisotropic case this does not apply. Then
the polarisation charges p p are additional sources for lines of E as indicated
in Fig. 4.12, because then

i.e.

\E
Fig. 4.12 Additional lines of E in the presence of polarisation charges.

Example 4.5: Polarisation of a cylinder in a homogeneous field Eo

Determine the field inside a cylinder of radius r = a and with axis along the z-axis in analogy to
the case of the sphere above.