# Vector potential

Homework Statement:
Consider the vector potential
A = C ln( (x^2+y^2)/z^2 ) \hat{z}

a) Determine the B-field for this potential. Describe a situation that gives a B-field of that shape.
b) Calculate \nabla \cdot A
c) Give a vector potential in coulomb gauge, A’, which gives the same B as in the a-task.
Relevant Equations:
B = \nabla x A
My solution for the vector potential ##A=2Cln\frac{x^2+y^2}{z^2} \hat{z}## is:
a) I used the following formula to calculate the magnetic field
$$\mathbf{B} = \nabla \times \mathbf{A} = \left( \frac{dA_z}{dy} - 0 \right) \hat{x} + \left( 0 - \frac{dA_z}{dx} \right)\hat{y} + 0 \hat{z} = \frac{dA_z}{dy} - \frac{dA_z}{dx} = 2C \frac{x}{x^2+y^2} \hat{x} - 2C \frac{y}{x^2+y^2} \hat{y}.$$
How should I describe a situation with this magnetic field here?

b) I just did the calculation of the formula and got a non-zero value:
$$\nabla \cdot \mathbf{A} = \left( \frac{d}{dx}, \frac{d}{dy}, \frac{d}{dz} \right) \cdot \mathbf{A} = \frac{d\mathbf{A}}{dx} + \frac{d\mathbf{A}}{dy} + \frac{d\mathbf{A}}{dz} = 2C \left( \frac{y}{x^2+y¨2} + \frac{x}{x^2+y^2} - \frac{1}{z} \right)$$

c) I was having problem solving this part, I was thinking about using the same formula in question a) ##\mathbf{B} = \nabla \times \mathbf{A'}## and solve for ##\mathbf{A'}## since I have a known ##\mathbf{B}##, but then I realised it is too difficult to solve it. I also thought mathematically that this expression ##\mathbf{A'} = Cln(x^2+y^2)\hat{z}## could give us the same value of B as in the a-task. But this is still not solving the problem correctly. What should I do?

kuruman
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From the looks of it, you should convert to cylindrical coordinates. Look up the del operator if you don't know it in cylindrical coordinates.

Gustav
From the looks of it, you should convert to cylindrical coordinates. Look up the del operator if you don't know it in cylindrical coordinates.
How should I convert to cylendrical form? Do you mean re-write ##\mathbf{A}## in cylderincal form or re-do the whole calculation?

From the looks of it, you should convert to cylindrical coordinates. Look up the del operator if you don't know it in cylindrical coordinates.
Also, why should it be cylendrical?

kuruman
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Yes, that's what I mean. Find its form here. It should be cylindrical because that is its symmetry.

PhDeezNutz and Gustav
Also what do you mean by its symmetry? What is its symmetry?

Yes, that's what I mean. Find its form here. It should be cylindrical because that is its symmetry.
Okay, so for the part where the curl is I need to calculate in this form:
$$\nabla \times A = \left[ \frac{1}{s} \frac{\partial A_z}{\partial \phi} - \frac{\partial A_\phi}{\partial z} \right]\hat{s} + \left[ \frac{\partial A_s}{\partial z} - \frac{\partial A_z}{\partial s} \right]\hat{\phi} + \frac{1}{s} \left[ \frac{\partial s A_\phi}{\partial s} - \frac{\partial A_s}{\partial \phi} \right] \hat{z} = \frac{1}{s} \frac{\partial A_z}{\partial \phi}\hat{s} - \frac{\partial A_z}{\partial s} \hat{\phi}$$
How am I going to derivate ##A_z## with respect to ##\phi## or ##s##?

kuruman
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How am I going to derivate ##A_z## with respect to ##\phi## or ##s##?
First, you need to write ##A_z## as a function of ##r##, ##\phi## and ##z##? Do that first, then take the partial derivatives.

Gustav
First, you need to write ##A_z## as a function of ##r##, ##\phi## and ##z##? Do that first, then take the partial derivatives.
Okay, I tried to re-write it and I got something like this:
## x= s \cos(\phi ), y= s \sin(\phi), z=z##
$$\mathbf{A} = C \ln \left( \frac{x^2+y^2}{z^2} \right) = C \ln \left( \frac{ (s \cos(\phi )^2 + (s \sin(\phi )^2}{z^2} \right) = C \ln \frac{s^2}{z^2}$$

kuruman
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What is ##s##? Also, please fix the LaTeX.

On edit: Thank you for fixing it.

Last edited:
Gustav
What is ##s##? Also, please fix the LaTeX.
##s=\rho ##, I am sorry about the LaTeX, I am working on it.

Now I think I can manage to calculate the curl and the divergence. But I still don't understand why we used cylendrical coordinates?

Okay, I tried to re-write it and I got something like this:
## x= s \cos(\phi ), y= s \sin(\phi), z=z##
$$\mathbf{A} = C \ln \left( \frac{x^2+y^2}{z^2} \right) = C \ln \left( \frac{ (s \cos(\phi )^2 + (s \sin(\phi )^2}{z^2} \right) = C \ln \frac{s^2}{z^2}$$
Also this is in the ##\hat{z}##

kuruman
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Right. You should put in the ##\hat z## to avoid confusing anyone who might be reading this. Also, conventionally ##s## is ##r## but that's OK if you know what you're doing. Now find the curl and the divergence. Once you have these, I will explain to you why one should use cylindrical coordinates for this problem.

Gustav
Right. You should put in the ##\hat z## to avoid confusing anyone who might be reading this. Also, conventionally ##s## is##r## but that's OK if you know what you're doing. Now find the curl and the divergence. Once you have these, I will explain to you why one should use cylindrical coordinates.
Okay, so now that I have my ## A_z = C \ln \frac{s^2}{z^2} \hat{z} ## I can calculate the derivatives:
1) Curl:
$$\nabla \times A = \frac{1}{s}\frac{\partial A_z}{\partial \phi} \hat{s} - \frac{\partial A_z}{\partial s} \hat{\phi} = 0 - \frac{2C}{s}\hat{\phi} = - \frac{2C}{s}\hat{\phi}.$$
2) Divergence:
$$\nabla \cdot A = 0 + 0 + \frac{\partial A_z}{\partial z} = - \frac{2C}{z}$$

kuruman
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Gold Member
Very good. Compare these expressions and how easy it was to take derivatives with what you did earlier with Cartesian coordinates. Also, note that from three coordinate ##x##, ##y## and ##z## the problem has been reduced to two ##s## and ##z##.

Look at ##\vec\nabla \times \vec A.## It must be a magnetic field. Can you guess what can possibly generate a magnetic field that looks like this? If so, what is the appropriate value for ##C##?

Gustav
Very good. Compare these expressions and how easy it was to take derivatives with what you did earlier with Cartesian coordinates. Also, note that from three coordinate ##x##, ##y## and ##z## the problem has been reduced to two ##s## and ##z##.

Look at ##\vec\nabla \times \vec A.## It must be a magnetic field. Can you guess what can possibly generate a magnetic field that looks like this? If so, what is the appropriate value for ##C##?
Nothing is crossing my mind... I don't think I know what could generate this magnetic field. How should I think to get that?

kuruman
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Have you had a course in introductory physics where you calculated magnetic fields for various current configurations?

Gustav
Have you had a course in introductory physics where you calculated magnetic fields for various current configurations?
Yes, I have

So what I think you mean is that the constant ##C=\frac{\mu_0}{2\pi}##. But in that kind of experession we have a current in the dominator.

So we are talking about a magnetic field in a wire that is circular shaped?

kuruman
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So what I think you mean is that the constant ##C=\frac{\mu_0}{2\pi}##. But in that kind of experession we have a current in the dominator.
There is never a current in the denominator of an expression for a magnetic field. The magnetic field is proportional to the current. That's Ampere's law. What current configuration are you thinking of? If you don't remember, look it up. There is no hurry.

Gustav
There is never a current in the denominator of an expression for a magnetic field. The magnetic field is proportional to the current. That's Ampere's law. What current configuration are you thinking of? If you don't remember, look it up. There is no hurry.
Sorry I meant numerator not denominator! I was thinking about an expression as the following
$$\mathbf{B} = \frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi s} \hat{\phi}$$

There is never a current in the denominator of an expression for a magnetic field. The magnetic field is proportional to the current. That's Ampere's law. What current configuration are you thinking of? If you don't remember, look it up. There is no hurry.
So I have an example in my book about "finding the magnetic field a distance s from a stright wire", the expression of its magnetic field reminded me of the one I got in the calculation for the curl.

kuruman