Dielectric Sphere in Field of a Point Charge

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the electric potential equations derived for a dielectric sphere in the field of a point charge, denoted as q, positioned at a distance b from the sphere's center. The potential inside the sphere is represented by the equation \Phi_{in}(r,\theta) = \sum^{\infty}_{n=0} A_{n}r^{n}P_{n}(cos\theta), while the potential outside is given by \Phi_{out}(r,\theta) = \sum^{\infty}_{n=0} \frac{kr^{n}}{b^{n+1}} + \sum^{\infty}_{n=0}\frac{B_{n}}{r^{n+1}}P_{n}(cos\theta), where k=\frac{q}{4\pi\epsilon_{0}} and P_{n} are the Legendre polynomials. The constants A_{n} and B_{n} were calculated based on boundary conditions, but the results do not simplify to zero as they do in the case of a sphere in a uniform field. The infinite series cannot be truncated to yield a simpler expression.

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Apteronotus
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Hi,
I have derived the electric potential equations inside and outside the sphere due to a point charge [tex]q[/tex] placed a distance [tex]b[/tex] way from the sphere's center. The potentials are given by:
[tex]\Phi_{in}(r,\theta) = \sum^{\infty}_{n=0} A_{n}r^{n}P_{n}(cos\theta)[/tex]
and
[tex]\Phi_{out}(r,\theta) = \sum^{\infty}_{n=0} \frac{kr^{n}}{b^{n+1}} + \sum^{\infty}_{n=0}\frac{B_{n}}{r^{n+1}}P_{n}(cos\theta)[/tex]

where
[tex]k=\frac{q}{4\pi\epsilon_{0}}[/tex] and [tex]P_{n}[/tex] - are the Legendre polynomials

I have calculated the the constants [tex]A_{n}[/tex] and [tex]B_{n}[/tex] according to the usual boundary conditions. Unfortunately, almost non of them are equal to zero unlike the the case of a 'sphere in a uniform field'. Is there any way of truncating these infinite sums to end up with something nice and clean?
 
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No. It is an infinite series.
 

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