## $$E = -\nabla \Phi - \displaystyle{\frac{\partial A}{\partial t}}$$

I would like your opinion regarding an explanation I gave elsewhere. I hold that the explanation below is straight forward. However it appears as if some were confused by it.

In a certain frame of referance, for a particular electromagnetic field, the relation $$\partial A/\partial t} = 0$$ holds true. Such a condition will hold in the case of a time independant magnetic field. The equation

$$E = - \nabla \Phi - \displaystyle{\frac{\partial A}{\partial t}}$$

in this example and in this frame reduces to

$$E = - \nabla \Phi$$

Does anyone think that this is relativistically incorrect?

I know this seems like a dumb question but some people claim that this is relativistically incorrect. Such a claim is obviously wrong. However I can't understand why they're having such a difficult time understanding this. Is it what I explained above confusing?

The 4-potential, $$A^{\alpha}$$, is defined in terms of the Coulomb potential, $$\Phi$$, and the magnetic vector potential, A as

$$A^{\alpha} = (\Phi/c, A) = (\Phi/c, A_x, A_y, A_z)$$

The Faraday tensor, $$F^{\alpha \beta}$$, is defined as

$$F^{\alpha \beta} = \partial^{\alpha} A^{\beta} - \partial^{\beta} A^{\alpha}$$

[See "Classical Electrodynamics - 2nd Ed.," J. D. Jackson, page 551, Eq. (11.136). I'm using different units]

The $$F^{0k}$$ components of this relationship for k = 1,2,3 are, respectively

$$\displaystyle{\frac{E_{x}}{c}} = \partial^{0} A^{1} - \partial^{1} A^{0} = - \displaystyle{\frac{1}{c}} \displaystyle{\frac{\partial A_{x}}{\partial t}} - \displaystyle{\frac{1}{c}} \displaystyle{\frac{\partial \Phi}{\partial x}}$$

$$\displaystyle{\frac{E_{y}}{c}} = \partial^{0} A^{2} - \partial^{2} A^{0} = - \displaystyle{\frac{1}{c}} \displaystyle{\frac{\partial A_{y}}{\partial t}} - \displaystyle{\frac{1}{c}} \displaystyle{\frac{\partial \Phi}{\partial y}}$$

$$\displaystyle{\frac{E_{z}}{c}} = \partial^{0} A^{3} - \partial^{3} A^{0} = - \displaystyle{\frac{1}{c}} \displaystyle{\frac{\partial A_{z}}{\partial t}} - \displaystyle{\frac{1}{c}} \displaystyle{\frac{\partial \Phi}{\partial z}}$$

These can be expressed as the single equation

$$E = -\nabla \Phi - \displaystyle{\frac{\partial A}{\partial t}}$$

This equation and the equation B = curl A are equation (11.134) in Jackson on page 551. In fact Jackson uses these two equations to define $$F^{\alpha \beta} = \partial^{\alpha} A^{\beta} - \partial^{\beta} A^{\alpha}$$

In the example stated above $$\displaystyle{\frac{\partial A}{\partial t}} = 0$$ so that

$$E = -\nabla \Phi$$

Does anyone find that confusing?

Note - Do to the nature of such a question please feel free to respond in PM.

Thanks
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 I know this seems like a dumb question but some people claim that this is relativistically incorrect.
Do they say why? If so, does their explanation make sense?

 Originally posted by Nereid Do they say why? If so, does their explanation make sense?
He didn't say what he here claims he said. He originally just felft off the vector potential term in a general statement for which bilge told him that his expression was not relativistically correct and waite told him just that he was neglecting the term. He then went and made statements concerning a choice of frame as if that was the intent all along.

## $$E = -\nabla \Phi - \displaystyle{\frac{\partial A}{\partial t}}$$

 Originally posted by Nereid Do they say why? If so, does their explanation make sense?
They claim that I was saying that

$$\partial A/\partial t} = 0$$

is the relationship between the electric field and the Coulomb potentil and they ignore the fact that I was saying that it was an example in a given frame for a particular field.

Here is how it was described to them. I was explaining potential energy to someone and I wrote
 ... if you have a uniform electric field E aligined in the +x direction then the potential energy of a charged particle (choose V(0) = 0) will be V(x) = q*Phi(x) where Phi(x) is the Coulomb potential which is defined such that E = - grad Phi(x). The proper mass of the charged particle will not depend on V(x) and that was what I thought you were trying to say.
They still didn't understand completely so I explained
 E = -grad Phi is an example of an electric field in a particular frame that I was using as an example. That equation is relativistically correct.
The person to whom I was addressing understood at that point.

However for some reason someone else thought that there must have been a magnetic field in my example since they complained that what I described was "meaningless." In response to that claim it was apparent that they were not paying attention to the fact that this was the expression for a particular field in a particular frame of referance. So I explained further
 That means that the frame I've chosen has a constant magnetic field so that &A/&t = 0. Thus in the particular frame that I've chosen E = -grad Phi
Since they still didn't understand after this I won't quote more.

But I fail to see how anyone could be that confused. Since only two people responded and since both of them were confused I'm curious as to how they could be so confused. Since I assume that it's them and not the explanation I wanted an opinion from someone who is unbiased.

Do you find the three parts I've quoted above confusing?

Thanks

 Originally posted by Arcon They claim that I was saying that $$\partial A/\partial t} = 0...$$ is the relationship between the electric field and the Coulomb potentil and they ignore the fact that I was saying that it was an example in a given frame for a particular field.
"THEY" did not say any such thing. You need to be specific when quoting someone. "They" were also not confused. Both of them are extremely well versed in general relativistic electrodynamics. You were just wrong for the reasons they explained which I mentioned.
 Recognitions: Gold Member Science Advisor Staff Emeritus Arcon, DW - Enough with Waite & pmb. Discuss the issues at hand. Lose the baggage. Your discussions are welcome. The harassing is not. My patience is coming to an end.

 Originally posted by Phobos Arcon, DW - Enough with Waite & pmb. Discuss the issues at hand. Lose the baggage. Your discussions are welcome. The harassing is not. My patience is coming to an end.
Okay by me
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