Maxwell's equations on the boundary between non-conductor and conductor

Mingfeng
Messages
3
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Hi, this is the first time I post a thread in this forum.
I am not sure if I could post this question here since it is not a homework problem.

I have trouble understanding two boundary condition between nonconductor and conductor from Maxwell's equations in dynamic case.

First, n X (H1 - H2) = I (media 1 is non-conductor, media 2 is conductor)
I know that when the conductor is perfect, there is discontinuity on the boundary since H2=0. So there is surface current K.

when the conductor is regular conductor, I = J . da = 0 because we take the limit as da -> 0 when we get the equation n X (H1 - H2) = I. Is this reasoning right?

And when the conductor is superconductor, is H continuous between the boundary?
Is there surface current K?



Second, (D1 - D2) . n = σ ,

When the conductor is perfect, there is discontinuity on the boundary since D2=0.

What happen when the conductor is regular conductor?
Does D1 = D2 ? Is there and surface charge?

And What happen if it is superconductor?
Does D1 = D2 or D2=0, D1=σ ?


Thanks.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 
Physics news on Phys.org
1. For the n X (H1 - H2) = I equation, when the conductor is a regular conductor, there is no surface current K, because as you said, we take the limit as da -> 0 when we get the equation, so I=J.da=0. However, there might still be some surface current, depending on what type of material is at the boundary. When the conductor is a superconductor, there is no surface current at the boundary since all the electric field is zero inside the superconductor. The H field is continuous across the boundary, though, since there is no discontinuity in the magnetic field.2. For the (D1 - D2).n = σ equation, when the conductor is a regular conductor, the D field is not necessarily equal to each other at the boundary. The surface charge will depend on the type of material at the boundary and the electric field present in each medium. For a superconductor, the D field will be equal to each other at the boundary, but the electric field will be zero, so there will be no surface charge.
 
Thread 'Need help understanding this figure on energy levels'
This figure is from "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" by Griffiths (3rd edition). It is available to download. It is from page 142. I am hoping the usual people on this site will give me a hand understanding what is going on in the figure. After the equation (4.50) it says "It is customary to introduce the principal quantum number, ##n##, which simply orders the allowed energies, starting with 1 for the ground state. (see the figure)" I still don't understand the figure :( Here is...
Thread 'Understanding how to "tack on" the time wiggle factor'
The last problem I posted on QM made it into advanced homework help, that is why I am putting it here. I am sorry for any hassle imposed on the moderators by myself. Part (a) is quite easy. We get $$\sigma_1 = 2\lambda, \mathbf{v}_1 = \begin{pmatrix} 0 \\ 0 \\ 1 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_2 = \lambda, \mathbf{v}_2 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} \sigma_3 = -\lambda, \mathbf{v}_3 = \begin{pmatrix} 1/\sqrt{2} \\ -1/\sqrt{2} \\ 0 \end{pmatrix} $$ There are two ways...
Back
Top