Question on Coulomb and Lorenz Gauge

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around Problem 10.6 from "Introduction to Electrodynamics" by David Griffiths, focusing on identifying which potentials are in the Coulomb and Lorenz gauges. Participants are analyzing the mathematical expressions related to the divergence of the vector potential.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are examining the divergence of the vector potential and questioning the validity of the results at the origin. There is a debate about the implications of the expression approaching infinity and the behavior of the terms involved.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the mathematical expressions. Some have provided insights into the behavior of the divergence at specific points, while others are questioning the assumptions made regarding limits and definitions.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific sections and equations from Griffiths' text to support their arguments, indicating a reliance on the textbook for clarification of concepts. There is an acknowledgment of the complexity introduced by the behavior of the terms at the origin.

yungman
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This is Problem 10.6 in page 422 of "Introduction to Electrodynamics" Edition 2 by David Griffiths. The question is:

Which of the potentials in the following is in the Coulomb gauge? Which is in Lorenz Gauge?( Notice that these gauges are not mutually exclusive.)

This is what the solution gave:
[tex]V)(\vec r, t)=0,\; and\; \vec A(\vec r,t)=-\hat r \frac{qt}{4\pi\epsilon_0r^2}[/tex]
[tex]\nabla\cdot \vec A=-\frac{qt}{4\pi\epsilon_0)} \nabla\left(\frac{\vec r}{r^2}\right)=-\frac{qt}{\epsilon_0)}\delta^3(\vec r)\Rightarrow\; \nabla\cdot\vec A\neq 0[/tex]
I disagree:
[tex]\nabla\cdot\vec A=\frac{1}{r^2}\frac{\partial (r^2A_r)}{\partial r}+\frac{1}{r\sin\theta}\frac{\partial (A_{\theta}\sin\theta)}{\partial \theta}+\frac{1}{r\sin\theta}\frac{\partial A_{\phi}}{\partial \phi}[/tex]
[tex]\Rightarrow\;\nabla\cdot\vec A=-\frac{1}{r^2}\frac{\partial \left(r^2\frac{qt}{4\pi\epsilon_0 r^2}\right)}{\partial r}= -\frac{1}{r^2}\frac{\partial \left(\frac{qt}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\right)}{\partial r}=0[/tex]

Please help
Thanks
 
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yungman said:
[tex]\Rightarrow\;\nabla\cdot\vec A=-\frac{1}{r^2}\frac{\partial \left(r^2\frac{qt}{4\pi\epsilon_0 r^2}\right)}{\partial r}= -\frac{1}{r^2}\frac{\partial \left(\frac{qt}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\right)}{\partial r}=0[/tex]

This result holds for all points except at the origin. For ##r = 0## the expression ##-\frac{1}{r^2}\frac{\partial \left(\frac{qt}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\right)}{\partial r}=0## is not well defined. See section 1.5.1 on page 45 and equation (1.99) on page 50 of Griffiths.
 
TSny said:
This result holds for all points except at the origin. For ##r = 0## the expression ##-\frac{1}{r^2}\frac{\partial \left(\frac{qt}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\right)}{\partial r}=0## is not well defined. See section 1.5.1 on page 45 and equation (1.99) on page 50 of Griffiths.

thanks

So you mean it's not the differentiation part, it's the ##\frac {1}{r^2}## part that goes to infinity at r+0. But if the differentiation part is zero, everything time zero is zero!
 
yungman said:
So you mean it's not the differentiation part, it's the ##\frac {1}{r^2}## part that goes to infinity at r+0. But if the differentiation part is zero, everything time zero is zero!

Any finite quantity times zero is zero. But 1/r2 is not a finite quantity at the origin. So, you sort of end up with ∞##\cdot##0 at the origin. What if I say the answer should be ∞ because "infinity times anything is infinity"?
 
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TSny said:
Any finite quantity times zero is zero. But 1/r2 is not a finite quantity at the origin. So, you sort of end up with ∞##\cdot##0 at the origin. What if I say the answer should be ∞ because "infinity times anything is infinity"?

Thanks, I since read page 46 to 50. I forgot all about this.
 

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