Electrodynamics-II, KSU Physics 931

Electrodynamics-II, Physics 931 (Wysin)
Kansas State University, Spring 2006.

Overview:

The course, part II, is intended for graduate students in physics who have already completed part I, and who have already had an introductory course in Electric and Magnetic Fields, or Electrodynamics, at the level of texts like:

Introduction to Electrodynamics, by David J. Griffiths, Prentice-Hall, Inc. (1999);
Classical Theory of Electromagnetism, by Baldassare Di Bartolo, Prentice-Hall (1991).
Electromagnetic Fields and Waves, by Corson and Lorrain, W. H. Freeman and Co. (1970);
Foundations of Electromagnetic Theory, by Reitz and Milford, Addison-Weseley (1967);

The presentation here is at the graduate physics level. The student is expected to have a fairly good grasp of many of the basic concepts in EM theory. In general, the implications of Maxwell's equations for the electromagnetic field will be studied, and applied to the theories of radiation from oscillating or accelerating charges and currents, scattering of radiation by different media, Einstein's special theory of relativity and its implications for electrodynamics, and other topics in radiation theory, such as radiation damping.

Maybe the course could be summarized by giving it an alternative title, "Electromagnetic Radiation Theory".

In addition to expanding the application of these concepts to more general problems, a significant part of the course will involve the development of expertise in more advanced mathematical techniques, including especially the always interesting Green's functions, generating functions, Bessel functions, Legendre functions, and spherical harmonics. A solid understanding of how to manipulate these gives you a much stronger toolbox for confidence in analyzing a wider range of geometries and problems!

For more course information, including style of homework submission and grading,
go here: Spring 2006 Physics 931 Syllabus.

Prof. Gary M. Wysin, wysin@phys.ksu.edu.
Office hours: TU, 2:30 -- 4:30, CW 309, 785-532-1628.

Textbooks

The textbook for the course is the world-famous, excellent, but sometimes hard-for-students-to-read book by J. D. Jackson:

Classical Electrodynamics, Third Edition, by John David Jackson, John Wiley and Sons, (1998).

This is the book with the blue hardcover, where he changed to SI (System-International or meter-kilogram-second-ampere) units for the first 10 chapters. The earlier editions from which I've based my notes used the simpler CGS (cm-gram-sec) system, where electric and magnetic fields have the same units. I've tried to incorporate both systems here where it is possible, however, radiation and scattering theory will probably be in SI whereas the later topics will follow CGS.

Other Useful Textbooks

Some mathematical help for things like delta-functions, Green functions, etc., might be found in various Math-Methods textbooks, like:

Mathematical Methods for Physicists, by George B. Arfken and Hans J. Weber, Academic Press, Fourth Edition (1995).
Mathematics of Classical and Quantum Physics, by Frederick W. Byron and Robert W. Fuller, Addison-Wesley (1969).

Lecture Notes

Scanned images of my lecture notes. Sometimes there are too many pages trying to explain the various steps in some simple arguments... but, you can follow the presentation at the board with these.

Chapter 8: Transverse Electric and Transverse Magnetic Modes in Cylindrical Wave Guides (CGS)
Chapter 8: Modes in Resonant Cavities (CGS)
Chapter 8: Damping of Modes in Waveguides and Cavities (CGS)
Chapter 8: Dielectric Wave Guides (Fiber Optics) (CGS)
Chapter 8: Generation of Modes in Waveguides and Cavities due to Sources (CGS)
Chapter 9: Simple radiating systems, electric and magnetic multipoles (SI)
Chapter 9: Vector Multipole Fields -- Helmholtz Eqn. and Angular Momentum (general)
Chapter 9: Multipole Expansion of Vector Electromagnetic Fields (SI)
Chapter 9: Multipole Expansion of Vector Electromagnetic Fields (CGS)
Chapter 10: Scattering Theory and Various Applications (SI)
Chapter 10: Vector Plane Waves and Scattering from a Sphere (SI)
Chapter 11: Introduction to Special Relativity, Einstein's Postulates, Intervals (CGS)
Chapter 11: Lorentz Space-Time Transformations of Length, Time, Velocity, Energy, Momentum (CGS)
Chapter 11: Four-Vectors, Tensor Algebra, and Generators of Lorentz Group of Transformations (CGS)
Chapter 11: Using 4-Vectors for Decay and Collision Problems (Applying Conservation of 4-Momentum) (CGS)
Chapter 11: Covariant Electrodynamics (Tensor Analysis of Electromagnetic Fields and Their Lorentz Transformations) (CGS)
Chapter 12: Relativistic Dynamics: Lagrangian Description of Relativistic Particle Mechanics (CGS)
Chapter 12: Relativistic Mechanics of Charged Particles in Applied Fields (CGS)
Chapter 12: Lagrangian and Covariant Description of EM Fields (CGS)
Chapter 12: Covariant Wave Equation and Green's Function (CGS)
Chapter 13: Collisional Energy Losses: Heavy Particle Collides with a Bound Electron (CGS)
Chapter 13: Density Effect in Matter; Cherenkov Radiation (CGS)
Chapter 14: Radiation from Moving Charges: Fields of a Charge in Relativistic Motion (CGS)
Chapter 14: Angular Distribution of Power from Accelerated Charges (CGS)
Chapter 14: Frequency Distribution of Power; Synchrotron Radiation (CGS)
Chapter 16: Radiation Reaction Effects: Radiation Acts Back on the Emitting Charge (CGS)
Chapter 16: Abraham-Lorentz Discussion of Self-Force (CGS)
Chapter 16: Covariant Energy-Momentum; Oscillator Level Shifts (CGS)

Problem Sets

Line-up for homework presentations.
Assn. 1: Simple Radiating Dipole Systems.
Assn. 2: Radiation from Multipole Arrangements.
Assn. 3: Radiation from Non-Harmonic Sources. Other Radiation Problems.
Assn. 4: Scattering of Radiation.
Assn. 5: Introduction to Special Relativity.
Assn. 6: Four-Vectors, Collisions, Photons.
Assn. 7: Electromagnetic Field Transformations.
Assn. 8: Motion of Charged Particles in EM Fields.
Assn. 9: Relativistic Properties of EM Fields.
Assn. 10: Radiation from Accelerated Charges.
Assn. 11: Radiation Damping, Classical Particles.

Exams

Spring 2006 Exam 1. Radiation and Scattering. Solution.
Spring 2006 Exam 2. Relativistic Electrodynamics. Solution.

Electrodynamics-II, Physics 931 (Wysin) Kansas State University, Spring 2006.