Electric Potential Normalization

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the normalization of electric potential in an infinite parallelpipid defined by the Laplacian and Poisson equations. The potential is expressed as a series involving sine functions and exponential decay, with specific normalization constants derived for the case where the potential at the x=0 plane is \Phi_0 and other faces are zero. The participant challenges their professor's assertion that the normalization constants can be absorbed into the coefficient A, leading to a discrepancy in the calculated values of A. The correct normalization constant is established as A_{n_{y}'n_{z}'}=\frac{8\Phi_{0}\sqrt{ab}}{n_{y}'n_{z}'\pi^{2}} while the professor's method yields A_{n_{y}',n_{z}'}=\frac{4\Phi_{0}ab}{n_{y}'n_{z}'\pi^{2}}.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Laplacian and Poisson equations in electrodynamics.
  • Familiarity with Fourier series and normalization in quantum mechanics.
  • Knowledge of boundary conditions in potential theory.
  • Ability to perform double integrals over defined limits.
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the derivation of normalization constants in quantum mechanics.
  • Explore the application of boundary conditions in solving partial differential equations.
  • Learn about the implications of potential theory in electrodynamics.
  • Investigate the mathematical properties of sine functions in Fourier series expansions.
USEFUL FOR

Students and professionals in physics, particularly those specializing in electrodynamics, quantum mechanics, and mathematical physics, will benefit from this discussion.

makhoma
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I was in my Electrodynamics lecture last week, still working the Laplacian and Poisson equations, when we discussed an infinite parallelpipid (infinite in the [tex]x[/tex] direction, length [tex]a[/tex] and [tex]b[/tex] in the [tex]y[/tex] and [tex]z[/tex] direction respectively) with a potential of [tex]\Phi=\Phi_0[/tex] at [tex]x=0[/tex] plane and every other face having [tex]\Phi=0[/tex]. Here he said that, due to boundary conditions we should expect the potential to have the form

[tex] \Phi(x,y,z)=\sum_{n_{y},n_{z}}A_{n_{y}n_{z}}\eta_{n_{y}}\sin\left[\frac{n_{y}\pi y}{a}\right]\eta_{n_{z}}\sin\left[\frac{n_{z}\pi z}{b}\right]\exp\left[-\pi\sqrt{\frac{n_{y}^{2}}{a^{2}}+\frac{n_{z}^{2}}{b^{2}}}x\right][/tex]

where [tex]\eta[/tex] and [tex]A[/tex] are both normalization constants. I agree with this form (not sure about the normalization constants, but that's the question to come). We let the eta's equal [tex]\sqrt{2/a}[/tex] and [tex]\sqrt{2/b}[/tex] in order to coincide with QM. In looking at the case [tex]x=0[/tex], we find

[tex] \Phi_{0}=\sum_{n_{y}n_{z}}A_{n_{y}n_{z}}\sqrt{\frac{2}{a}}\sin\left[\frac{n_{y}\pi y}{a}\right]\sqrt{\frac{2}{b}}\sin\left[\frac{n_{z}\pi z}{b}\right][/tex]

Then multiply both sides by

[tex] \sum_{n_{y}'n_{z}'}A_{n_{y}'n_{z}'}\sqrt{\frac{2}{a}}\sin\left[\frac{n_{y}'\pi y}{a}\right]\sqrt{\frac{2}{b}}\sin\left[\frac{n_{z}^{'}\pi z}{b}\right][/tex]

Which after integrating over [tex]dy'[/tex] and [tex]dz'[/tex] from [tex]0[/tex] to [tex]a[/tex] and [tex]0[/tex] to [tex]b[/tex], respectively, we find that [tex]n_y,n_z[/tex] must be odd integers. So then the normalization constant is found to be

[tex] A_{n_{y}'n_{z}'}=\frac{8\Phi_{0}\sqrt{ab}}{n_{y}'n_{z}'\pi^{2}}[/tex]

All of this makes sense and does work out mathematically. The trouble I find is that my professor said we could do this without having the [tex]\eta[/tex] terms in there, that [tex]A[/tex] would absorb it and we should still come out with the same answer. But following the same math as above, and removing the [tex]\eta[/tex] normalizations, I find the normalization constant to be

[tex] A_{n_{y}',n_{z}'}=\frac{4\Phi_{0}ab}{n_{y}'n_{z}'\pi^{2}}[/tex]

My question is two-fold:
(1) Is my professor wrong and we should not expect the same normalization constant between the two (my answer is off by the factor [tex]2/\sqrt{ab}[/tex]?
(2) Is my professor right, and I screwed up somewhere?
 
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I think I found an error in what my professor did in class. We have a line that reads

[tex] \int_0^ady\int_0^bdz\sqrt{\frac{2}{a}}\sin\left[\frac{n_y'\pi y}{a}\right]\sqrt{\frac{2}{b}}\sin\left[\frac{n_z'\pi z}{b}\right]\Phi_0=A_{n_y'n_z'}[/tex]

And it should read

[tex] \int_0^ady\int_0^bdz\sqrt{\frac{2}{a}}\sin\left[\frac{n_y'\pi y}{a}\right]\sqrt{\frac{2}{b}}\sin\left[\frac{n_z'\pi z}{b}\right]\Phi_0=\frac{2}{\sqrt{ab}}A_{n_y'n_z'}[/tex]

This makes the normalization constant [tex]A_{n_y'n_z'}[/tex] equal to what I get:

[tex] A_{n_y'n_z'}=\frac{4\Phi_0ab}{n_y'n_z'\pi^2}[/tex]

Guess the professor forgot to carry some factors from one line to the next. Thanks for your help anyway!
 

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