How Do Time-Varying Currents in Conductors Generate EM Fields and Waves?

Click For Summary
SUMMARY

Time-varying currents in conductors generate electromagnetic (EM) fields and waves under specific conditions. A conductor with an electric current that varies over time produces an EM field, which can transition to electromagnetic waves in the far field. The near field is characterized by local fields where energy is stored, while the far field involves radiated fields where energy is lost. The generation of these fields is contingent upon the acceleration or deceleration of charged particles within the circuit.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electromagnetic induction principles
  • Knowledge of circuit theory and closed circuits
  • Familiarity with the concepts of near field and far field
  • Basic principles of charged particle dynamics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research electromagnetic induction and its applications
  • Study the differences between near field and far field in electromagnetic theory
  • Explore the role of circuit dimensions in EM wave radiation
  • Learn about the effects of accelerating charged particles on EM field generation
USEFUL FOR

Physicists, electrical engineers, and students studying electromagnetism or circuit design will benefit from this discussion.

crocodile_
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Hello, I'm new to this forum. I have a short question that I can't solve on my own, I've consulted many books but I can't find solutions, I hope you can help me.

Then considering a conductor traversed by an electric current that varies over time, it produces an electromagnetic field, under certain conditions the electromagnetic field moves further and further away from the conductor and electromagnetic waves are created.

Here are the conditions under which a conductor produces only an electromagnetic field in the near field such as EM induction or transcranial magnetic stimulation, and under which other conditions does it instead produce electromagnetic waves (far field)?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Welcome to PF.

You have considered only a short piece of wire and the near field it radiates. That piece of wire is just one element of a closed circuit with current flowing.

The far field is the sum of all the fields radiated by the current in all the elements of that circuit. For big circuits and small wavelengths, the phase of the currents may vary about the circuit, which makes the summation more interesting.

The magnetic fields radiated by the circuit are accompanied in space by a perpendicular electric field.
 
Electric circuits with varying current, unless of shielded construction, will have both local fields, in which energy is stored, and radiated fields, where energy is lost from the circuit due to the creation of radiated EM waves. The radiated energy is small when the dimensions of the circuit are small compared to the wavelength.
 
Whenever a charged particle is accelerated or decelerated electromagnetic radiation will be produced. The only condition for generating an electromagnetic field in the near-field region and in the far-field region is a charged particle with changing its velocity.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
5K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K