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Homework Statement
A sphere with radius R carries a uniform polarization in the radial direction P = k/r2
Find the bound charges and calculate the field they produce outside the sphere.
Homework Equations
ρ = -∇[itex]\bullet[/itex]P
σ = P[itex]\bullet[/itex][itex]\hat{r}[/itex]
The Attempt at a Solution
We find σ = k/r2
ρ = 0
So the field they produce is E = kR2/(ε0r2)
But this can't be true! How can a polarization create a field outside the sphere? Something is definitely wrong. Because we also have:
D = ε0E
And using a Gaussian surface you find:
E=0
And I am confident in the last result. There is something disappearing in the above - where have all the charges of opposite sign gone? I believe it has to do with the mathematics behind ∇[itex]\bullet[/itex]k/r2 = 0. For that the pesky delta function is involved in that I believe. If ρ=0 we also find no field inside the sphere. Can that really be true?