(Electric) Scalar and vector potential

lailola
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Homework Statement



In the problem, the electric scalar and vector potentials are,
\phi=0, \vec{A}=A_0 e^{i(k_1 x-2k_2y-wt)}\vec{u_y}

I have to find E, B and S.

Then, I have to calculate \phi ' that satisfies div\vec{A}+\frac{\partial \phi '}{\partial t}=0 Then calculate E and B.

Is it possible to find \vec{A}' and \phi' that satisfy the previous equation and produce the same E and B as \vec{A} and \phi?

Homework Equations


\vec{E}=-grad\phi-\frac{\partial \vec{A}}{c\partial t}=0
\vec{B}=rot(\vec{A})


The Attempt at a Solution



Using the equations I find:

\vec{E}=A_0wi/c e^{i(k_1x-2k_2y-wt)}\vec{u_y}

\vec{B}=A_0ik_1 e^{i(k_1x-2k_2y-wt)}\vec{u_k}

\vec{S}=\frac{c}{4\pi} \vec{E}x\vec{B}=1/(4\pi) A_0^2wk_1sin^2(k_1x-2k_2y-wt)\vec{u_x}

For the next part I find,

\phi ' = - 2K_2 c A_0/(w) e^{i(k_1x-2k_2y-wt)}+ constant(x,y)

Then, I calculate E and B as before.

I don't know how to answer the last part. Any idea?

Thank you.
 
Last edited:
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lailola said:

Homework Statement



In the problem, the electric scalar and vector potentials are,
\phi=0, \vec{A}=A_0 e^{i(k_1 x-2k_2y-wt)}
Your expression for the vector potential isn't a vector.

I have to find E, B and S.

Then, I have to calculate \phi ' that satisfies div\vec{A}+\frac{\partial \phi '}{\partial t}=0 Then calculate E and B.

Is it possible to find \vec{A} and \phi' that satisfy the previous equation and produce the same E and B as \vec{A} and \phi?

Homework Equations


\vec{E}=-grad\phi-\frac{\partial \vec{A}}{c\partial t}=0
\vec{B}=rot(\vec{A})


The Attempt at a Solution



Using the equations I find:

\vec{E}=A_0w/c e^{i(k_1x-2k_2y-wt)}\vec{u_y}

\vec{B}=A_0ik_1 e^{i(k_1x-2k_2y-wt)}\vec{u_k}

\vec{S}=\frac{c}{4\pi} \vec{E}x\vec{B}=1/(4\pi) A_0^2wk_1sin^2(k_1x-2k_2y-wt)\vec{u_x}

For the next part I find,

\phi ' = - 2K_2 c A_0/(w) e^{i(k_1x-2k_2y-wt)}+ constant(x,y)

Then, I calculate E and B as before.

I don't know how to answer the last part. Any idea?

Thank you.
 
vela said:
Your expression for the vector potential isn't a vector.
Presumably A_0 is itself a vector, which makes that definition perfectly valid.

lailola said:
I don't know how to answer the last part. Any idea?

Thank you.

Imagine taking your current definitions for A and \phi (I'm renaming your \phi' to \phi for simplicity, and so that I can reuse the symbol \phi' below), and adding new quantities to them. So something like:
A \rightarrow A + A&#039;\\<br /> \phi \rightarrow \phi + \phi&#039;

Now plug those definitions into your previous equations, and see if you can use them to come up with some constraints on the forms that A&#039; and \phi&#039; would have to take, in order to cause E and B to still come out the same.
 
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Chopin said:
Presumably A_0 is itself a vector, which makes that definition perfectly valid.
I don't think so. A0 appears in the expressions for the electric and magnetic fields along with unit vectors. It's pretty clear that the OP meant for A0 to denote a scalar.
 
Last edited:
Hmm, you're right. Guess I didn't look close enough at those E/B solutions.

lailola, can you clarify what the original problem is, and how you came up with your definitions for E and B?
 
vela said:
I don't think so. A0 appears in the expressions for the electric and magnetic fields along with unit vectors. It's pretty clear that the OP meant for A0 to denote a scalar.

I forgot to write the vector in the expression of the vector potential. I've written it.
 
Chopin said:
Presumably A_0 is itself a vector, which makes that definition perfectly valid.



Imagine taking your current definitions for A and \phi (I'm renaming your \phi&#039; to \phi for simplicity, and so that I can reuse the symbol \phi&#039; below), and adding new quantities to them. So something like:
A \rightarrow A + A&#039;\\<br /> \phi \rightarrow \phi + \phi&#039;

Now plug those definitions into your previous equations, and see if you can use them to come up with some constraints on the forms that A&#039; and \phi&#039; would have to take, in order to cause E and B to still come out the same.

Ok, thank you!
 
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