Retarded Potential of Moving Charge

[Shinobii]

Homework Statement

Calculate \phi_{ret} for a charge moving with constant v, along the x-axis.

2. The attempt at a solution

$$
\phi = q \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{\delta(x' - vt')}{|\vec{r} - \vec{r}'|} dx'.
$$

I then use the Dirac delta relation,

$$
\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \delta[f(x)]g(x) = \frac{g(x_o)}{|f'(x_o)|}.
$$

Where x_o is the solution of f(x_o) = 0.

I am not really sure how to do this, except that

$$
\begin{eqnarray}
f(x) &=& x' - vt', \\
g(x) &=& \frac{1}{|\vec{r} - \vec{r}'|}.
\end{eqnarray}
$$

Which results in (I think),

$$
\frac{1}{|\vec{r} - \vec{r}_o|}\frac{-1}{\frac{d(vt')}{dt}}.
$$

Then I suppose I would substitute t' = t - |\vec{r} - \vec{r}_o|/c. Looking at the derivative in the denominator I would get,

$$
v \bigg( 1 - \frac{1}{c}\frac{d}{dt}|\vec{r} - \vec{r}_o| \bigg).
$$

But here is where I get stuck (assuming I have not already made any mistakes).

Ok I was able to reach the final result for the derivative;

$$
-v \bigg( 1 - \frac{v}{c} \frac{(\vec{x} - \vec{x}_o)}{|\vec{r} - \vec{r}_o|} \bigg)
$$

however, I have a pesky -v term multiple to the result! Should I have written the delta as \delta(x' - v't') instead of \delta(x' - vt')?

 

[Shinobii]

Ah, I think I figured it out. We are looking at the case where f(x_o) = 0, so we just divide by v.

 

[Shinobii]

If anyone is keeping track, it turns out I should have been taking the derivative w.r.t x. . . f'(x_o) = \frac{d}{dx}f(x_o). Woops!