Vector potential of current flowing to a point from all directions

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the vector potential \( \mathbf{A} \) for a current flowing to a point from all directions, particularly focusing on the integration process involved in the calculation. The context includes concepts from electromagnetism, specifically relating to vector potentials and magnetic fields.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the setup of the integral for the vector potential and question the integration limits and the factors included in the integrand. There is uncertainty about how to handle the volume integral and the implications of symmetry on the vector potential.

Discussion Status

Some participants have pointed out potential errors in the integral setup, particularly regarding missing factors and the implications of the Coulomb gauge. There is an ongoing exploration of how these factors affect the outcome of the integral and the resulting vector potential.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the equation for the vector potential may not be valid in the presence of time-dependent fields and currents, and there is mention of the need to consider retarded times in certain gauges. The discussion reflects on the constraints of the problem and the specific conditions under which the vector potential is evaluated.

RedDeer44
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Homework Statement
This is from Griffith , Introduction to Electrodynamics 4th Edition question 10.7

A time-dependent point charge q(t) at the origin, ##\rho(r, t) = q(t)\delta^3(r)##, is fed by a current ##J(r, t) = −\frac{1}{4π} \frac{\dot q}{r^2}) \hat r##
(a) Check that charge is conserved, by confirming that the continuity equation is obeyed.
(b) Find the scalar and vector potentials in the Coulomb gauge. If you get stuck, try working on (c) first.
(c) Find the fields, and check that they satisfy all of Maxwell’s equations.
Relevant Equations
$$A = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\int \frac{ J}{|r-r'|}d^3r'$$
$$J = −\frac{1}{4π} \frac{\dot q}{r^2}) \hat r$$
I am having problem with part (b) finding the vector potential. More specifically when writing out the volume integral,
$$A = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi r}\frac{dq}{dt}\int_{0}^{2\pi}\int_{0}^{\pi}\int_{0}^{?}\frac{1}{4\pi r'^2} r'^2sin\theta dr'd\theta d\phi$$
How do I integrate ##r'##?

The solution says because ##B## can only have ##r## component and only depend on ##r## and ##t## due to symmetry, and ##\nabla \cdot B = 0##, ##B = \nabla \times A = 0## also by using coulomb gauge we set ## \nabla\cdot A = 0##, ##A=0## or it could be any constant.
The argument makes sense to me, but I am not sure what is wrong with the integral, and how does it end up with 0.
 
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When you setup the integral,
$$
\mathbf{A }(\mathbf{r})= \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\int \frac{ \mathbf{ J}(\mathbf{r'})}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r'}|}d^3r'
$$
you left out the factor ##\frac{1}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r'}|}## in the integrand. The integral is messy.
 
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jasonRF said:
When you setup the integral,
$$
\mathbf{A }(\mathbf{r})= \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\int \frac{ \mathbf{ J}(\mathbf{r'})}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r'}|}d^3r'
$$
you left out the factor ##\frac{1}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r'}|}## in the integrand. The integral is messy.
Yes that's right. I'd fix it but I can't seem to edit it anymore. The correct integral should have an extra ##\frac{1}{r'}## factor in it, but I am still not sure what is the upper bound of integral so that it come out to be a constant.
 
RedDeer44 said:
Homework Equations: $$A = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\int \frac{ J}{|r-r'|}d^3r'$$
This equation is not valid in general when you have time-dependent fields and currents. In the Lorentz gauge (also called Lorenz gauge) there is a similar formula for A except the integrand is evaluated at "retarded times". But, you want A in the Coulomb gauge. In this gauge, it can be shown that $$\mathbf{A}(\mathbf r) = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\int \frac{\mathbf{J_t}(\mathbf{r}', t_r)}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r'}|}d^3r'$$where again you use retarded times ##t_r##, but the integrand involves only the so-called "transverse component" ##\mathbf{J_t}## of ##\mathbf{J}##. If you want to read more about this, see section 5.2 here. For your problem ##\mathbf{J_t}=0##, which is consistent with ##\mathbf{A} = 0## in the Coulomb gauge for this particular problem.
 
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