PHY-5346: CLASSICAL ELECTRODYNAMICS I Dr R Fiebig

Selected Sections from: J D Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics (3rd Edition)

Bold-faced section headings are considered mandatory lecture topics. Normal-type headings are optional topics and some of them will be presented if sufficient time is available. However, all subsequently listed sections are mandatory reading, and related questions might occur in any of the tests and final exams.

I.1 Maxwell Equations in Vacuum, Fields, and Sources
I.2 The Inverse Square Law or the Mass of the Photon
I.4 The Maxwell Equations in Macroscopic Media
I.5 Boundary Conditions at Interfaces between Different Media

1.1 Coulomb's Law
1.2 Electric Field
1.3 Gauss's Law
1.4 Differential Form of Gauss's Law
1.5 Another Equation of Electrostatics and the Scalar Potential
1.6 Surface Distributions of Charges and Dipoles and Discontinuities in the Electric Field and Potential
1.7 Poisson and Laplace Equations
1.8 Green's Theorems
1.9 Uniqueness of the Solution with Dirichlet or Neumann Boundary Conditions
1.10 Formal Solution of Electrostatic Boundary-Value Problem with Green Function
1.11 Electrostatic Potential Energy and Energy Density, Capacitance
1.12 Variational Approach to the Solution of the Laplace and Poisson Equations

2.1 Method of Images
2.2 Point Charge in the Presence of a Grounded Conducting Sphere
2.6 Green Function for the Sphere, General Solution for the Potential
2.7 Conducting Sphere with Hemispheres at Different Potentials
2.8 Orthogonal Functions and Expansions
2.9 Separation of Variables, Laplace Equation in Rectangular Coordinates
2.10 A Two-Dimensional Potential Problem, Summation of a Fourier Series
2.11 Fields and Charge Densities in Two-Dimensional Corners and along Edges

3.1 Laplace Equation in Spherical Coordinates
3.2 Legendre Equation and Legendre Polynomials
3.3 Boundary-Value Problems with Azimuthal Symmetry
3.5 Associate Legendre Functions and the Spherical Harmonics
3.6 Addition Theorem for Spherical Harmonics
3.7 Laplace Equation in Cylindrical Coordinates, Bessel Functions
3.8 Boundary-Value Problems in Cylindrical Coordinates
3.9 Expansion of Green Functions in Spherical Coordinates
3.11 Expansion of Green Functions in Cylindrical Coordinates
3.12 Eigenfunction Expansions for Green Functions

4.1 Multipole Expansion
4.2 Multipole Expansion of the Energy of a Charge Distribution in an External Field
4.3 Elementary Treatment of Electrostatics with Ponderable Media
4.4 Boundary-Value Problems with Dielectrics
4.5 Molecular Polarizability and Electric Suszeptibility
4.6 Models for the Molecular Polarizability
4.7 Electrostatic Energy of Dielectric Media

5.1 Introduction and Definitions
5.2 Biot and Savart Law
5.3 Differential Equations of Magnetostatics and Ampere's Law
5.4 Vector Potential
5.5 Vector Potential and Magnetic Induction for a Circular Current Loop
5.6 Magnetic Field of Localized Current Distribution, Magnetic Moment
5.7 Force and Torque on and Energy of a Localized Current Distribution in an External Magnetic Induction
5.8 Macroscopic Equations, Boundary Conditions on B and H
5.9 Methods of Solving Boundary-Value Problems in Magnetostatics
5.10 Uniformly Magnetized Sphere
5.15 Faraday's Law of Induction
5.16 Energy in the Magnetic Field

6.1 Maxwell's Displacement Current, Maxwell's Equations
6.2 Vector and Scalar Potentials
6.3 Gauge Transformations, Lorentz Gauge, Coulomb Gauge
6.4 Green Functions for the Wave Equations
6.6 Derivation of the Equations of Macroscopic Electromagnetism
6.7 Poynting's Theorem and Conservation of Energy and Momentum for a System of Charged Particles and Electromagnetic Fields
6.9 Poynting's Theorem for Harmonic Fields, Field Definitions of Impedance and Admittance
6.10 Transformation Properties of Electromagnetic Fields and Sources under Rotations, Spatial reflections, and Time Reversal

7.1 Plane Waves in a Nonconducting Medium
7.2 Linear and Circular Polarization, Stokes Parameters

List of Homework Assignments (tentative)

1.3
1.5
1.10
1.14
1.15
1.17a

2.1
2.7
2.12
2.23

3.2
3.7
3.9
3.17

4.1
4.6
4.7
4.9

5.10
5.13

6.9
6.10
6.11

7.1
7.16

Exams and More

• Homework will be collected, but not graded. The fractional return on the homework will be assigned a score $H=0\ldots 100$. Homework is due two weeks after assignement (not counting spring break), or on the last day of finals week (whichever is first).
• There will be three exams including the final. The length of each exam is the usual class period. Each exam score $E_i=0\ldots 100$, $i=1,2,3$, carries equal weight. The class textbook only is allowed, and required. Other materials are a calculator, a ruler, paper and pen(cil).
• The overall score $X$ for the course is determined by combining homework and exams as
  $$X=\frac12 H +\frac12 \frac{E_1+E_2+E_3}{3} .$$

• Tentative exam schedule, Fall 2004
  

  Oct-04	(Mon)
  Nov-08	(Mon)
  Dec-13	(Mon)

• Announcements made in class may supersede syllabus rules!