Charge distribution with charge density

latentcorpse
Messages
1,411
Reaction score
0
The following is a worked example in my notes I am having difficulty with:

A charge distribution with charge density \rho \neq 0 exist in the half space V:z>0
We can view this as a system with an earthed plate at the z=0 plane. So at z=0 we have the Dirichlet boundary condition \varphi(x,y,0)=0

We know that the Greens' function G_D(\vec{r},\vec{r'}) = \frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0} \frac{1}{|\vec{r}-\vec{r'}} + f_D(\vec{r},\vec{r'}) i.e. it satisfies the Poisson equation (so essentially we're letting \varphi = G_D(\vec{r},\vec{r'})

Our Dirichlet boundary condition tells us that G_D(\vec{r},(x',y',0))=0

\Rightarrow f_D(\vec{r},(x',y',0))=-\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0} \frac{1}{\sqrt{(x-x')^2+(y-y')^2+z^2}}

this is generalised to give

\Rightarrow f_D(\vec{r},(x',y',0))=-\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0} \frac{1}{\sqrt{(x-x')^2+(y-y')^2+(z+z')^2}}

and we note that \nabla^2 f_D(\vec{r},\vec{r'})=0 i.e. it satisfies Laplace's equation and so G still satisfies Poisson's equation.

However it then states

\varphi(\vec{r})=\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0} \int_V dV' \rho(\vec{r'}) \left[ \frac{1}{|\vec{r}-\vec{r'}|} - \frac{1}{|\vec{r}-\vec{r'_m}|} \right]
where \vec{r'}=(x',y',z'), \vec{r'_m}=(x',y',-z') (*)

but the formula given earlier for calculating the potential from Dirichlet boundary conditions was:

\varphi(\vec{r})= \int_V dV' G_D(\vec{r},\vec{r'}) \rho(\vec{r'}) - \epsilon_0 \int_S dS' \frac{\partial{G_D(\vec{r},\vec{r'})}}{\partial{n}} \varphi(\vec{r'})
and so it appears that we've neglected the second term in the formula when we've written down the potential above at (*). Is this because the formula given for phi has a phi in the second term and so we can't apply it or something?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
latentcorpse said:
… We can view this as a system with an earthed plate at the z=0 plane. So at z=0 we have the Dirichlet boundary condition \varphi(x,y,0)=0…
but the formula given earlier for calculating the potential from Dirichlet boundary conditions was:

\varphi(\vec{r})= \int_V dV' G_D(\vec{r},\vec{r'}) \rho(\vec{r'}) - \epsilon_0 \int_S dS' \frac{\partial{G_D(\vec{r},\vec{r'})}}{\partial{n}} \varphi(\vec{r'})
and so it appears that we've neglected the second term in the formula when we've written down the potential above at (*). Is this because the formula given for phi has a phi in the second term and so we can't apply it or something?

Hi latentcorpse! :smile:

In ∫SdS'…φ, if S is the z=0 plane (and a hemisphere at infinity?), then isn't φ 0 over S?
 


sorry could u perhaps give a bit more explanation please - i can't really see what you mean?
 
latentcorpse said:
sorry could u perhaps give a bit more explanation please - i can't really see what you mean?

perhaps I'm misunderstanding the question :confused:

i meant, if S is the surface with the Dirichlet boundary condition mentioned in the question,
then φ = 0 all over S, so the second integral is ∫S0 dS' = 0 ?
 


lol. good point.
 
Thread 'Need help understanding this figure on energy levels'
This figure is from "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" by Griffiths (3rd edition). It is available to download. It is from page 142. I am hoping the usual people on this site will give me a hand understanding what is going on in the figure. After the equation (4.50) it says "It is customary to introduce the principal quantum number, ##n##, which simply orders the allowed energies, starting with 1 for the ground state. (see the figure)" I still don't understand the figure :( Here is...
Thread 'Understanding how to "tack on" the time wiggle factor'
The last problem I posted on QM made it into advanced homework help, that is why I am putting it here. I am sorry for any hassle imposed on the moderators by myself. Part (a) is quite easy. We get $$\sigma_1 = 2\lambda, \mathbf{v}_1 = \begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 0 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_2 = \lambda, \mathbf{v}_2 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_3 = -\lambda, \mathbf{v}_3 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ -1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} $$ There are two ways...
Back
Top