Instantaneous power at infinite distance from current element

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on deriving the instantaneous power passing through a spherical surface surrounding a current element carrying a current of I_{0} cos({\omega}t). The user, Avijit, encounters a discrepancy in the expected result, anticipating I_{0}^2R_{r} cos^2({\omega}t) but instead obtaining I_{0}^2R_{r} sin^2({\omega}t) or I_{0}^2R_{r} cos^2({\omega}t + {\pi}/2). The responses clarify that the far-field radiation behaves as a transverse spherical traveling wave, and the phase relationship between the current and the instantaneous power requires further examination.

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avjt
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Hi all,

Consider a 'current element' of length 'dl' carrying a current of [itex]I_{0} cos ({\omega}t)[/itex]. I understand the computation of the electric and magnetic fields due to this current element at any point [itex](r, \theta, \phi)[/itex], the computation of the Poynting vector at that point, and how the radiation resistance [itex]R_{r}[/itex] is derived from the time-averaged Poynting vector integrated over the surface of an enclosing sphere.

Now, I am trying to derive the instantaneous power passing through the surface of a sphere or radius 'r' centered at the current element (by integrating the Poynting vector directly over the surface of that sphere) and take the limit, at [itex]r\rightarrow\infty[/itex], so as to eliminate the effect of the near field entirely.

Given that the current is [itex]I_{0} cos ({\omega}t)[/itex], I was expecting to get a result of [itex]I_{0}^2R_{r} cos^2({\omega}t)[/itex]. But I keep getting [itex]I_{0}^2R_{r} sin^2({\omega}t)[/itex], or [itex]I_{0}^2R_{r} cos^2({\omega}t+{\pi}/2)[/itex] if you like.

Am I making a mistake (if so, can anyone point me to the correct derivation)? Or is there really a 90-degree phase shift between the current and the instantaneous power (if so, can anyone suggest some kind of physical explanation)?

Can anyone help me out? Thanks...

Avijit
 
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I don't know what you are doing wrong. In the far-field, radiation is a transverse spherical traveling wave, not much different than the transverse plane waves we learn about in Freshman physics. The derivation of the instantaneous power of a radiated wave is nearly identical to that of plane wave. http://faculty.uml.edu/cbaird/95.658%282011%29/Lecture1.pdf"
 
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chrisbaird said:
I don't know what you are doing wrong. In the far-field, radiation is a transverse spherical traveling wave, not much different than the transverse plane waves we learn about in Freshman physics. The derivation of the instantaneous power of a radiated wave is nearly identical to that of plane wave. http://faculty.uml.edu/cbaird/95.658%282011%29/Lecture1.pdf"

Thanks Chris.

The problem I seem to be having is that, for the current element [itex]{\delta}{\ell}[/itex] carrying a current [itex]I_{0} cos({\omega}t)[/itex], I get far-field values of [itex]\vec{B}=-{\mu}_0 \frac{I_{0}\: {\delta}{\ell}\: sin({\theta})}{4{\pi}}(\frac {\omega} {cr})sin({\omega}t')\hat{\phi}[/itex] and [itex]\vec{E}=-\frac {1} {{\epsilon}_0} \frac{I_{0}\: {\delta}{\ell}\: sin({\theta})}{4{\pi}}(\frac {\omega} {c^2 r})sin({\omega}t')\hat{\theta}[/itex], or, in other words, the electric and magnetic fields in the far field, though in phase with each other, seem to be 90-degree out of phase with the current (though the [itex]\frac {1} {r^2}[/itex] terms in the near field are nicely in phase with the current).

Computing the Poynting vector for these values of the far field gives me [itex]\frac {1} {c\:{\epsilon}_0}(\frac{I_{0}\: {\delta}{\ell}}{4{\pi}})^2(\frac {\omega}{c \: r})^2 sin^2 {\theta} \: sin^2 ({\omega}t') \hat{r}[/itex], and the surface integral of this gets me to [itex]{I_{0}}^2 R_r\:sin^2 {\omega}t'[/itex]

Do I have a mistake there?

Avijit
 
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