# Chapter 1 Introduction to Electrostatics

# 1.9 Uniqueness of the Solution With Dirichlet or Neumann Boundary Condition

appropriate B.C. on the closed surface S \mathbb{S} , for ∇2Φ=−ρ/ϵ0 \nabla^2 \Phi = - \rho / \epsilon_0 inside V \mathbb{V}

Dirichlet B.C. :ΦNeumann B.C. :∂Φ∂nCauchy B.C. :Φ  &  ∂Φ∂n→over specification \begin{aligned} \text{Dirichlet B.C. :} &\quad \Phi \\[0.8em] \text{Neumann B.C. :} &\quad \dfrac{\partial \Phi}{\partial n} \\[0.8em] \text{Cauchy B.C. :} &\quad \Phi \;\&\; \dfrac{\partial \Phi}{\partial n} \rightarrow \text{over specification} \end{aligned}

prove : If ∃  Φ1,Φ2 \exist \, \, \Phi_1 , \Phi_2 satisfying the same B.C.

{Φ1=Φ2=ΦD on S∂Φ1∂n=∂Φ1∂n=ΦN′ \left\{ \begin{aligned} \displaystyle \Phi_1 = \Phi_2 = \Phi_D \text{ on } \mathbb{S} \\ \displaystyle \frac{\partial \Phi_1}{\partial n} = \frac{\partial \Phi_1}{\partial n} = \Phi_N' \end{aligned} \right. U=Φ2−Φ1 U= \Phi_2 - \Phi_1 ∇2Φ1=∇2Φ2=−ρ/ϵ0 \nabla^2 \Phi_1 = \nabla^2 \Phi_2 = - \rho / \epsilon_0

From Green’s first identity, take ϕ=ψ=U \phi = \psi = U

∫V(U∇2U+∣∇U∣2)d3x=∮SU∂∂nUda \int_{\mathbb{V}}(U \nabla^2 U +|\nabla U|^2)d^3x = \oint_{\mathbb{S}} U \frac{\partial }{\partial n} U da

If U U is the solution of Laplace’s equation (∇2U=0) (\nabla^2 U = 0)

∫V∣∇U∣2d3x=∮SU∂∂nUda \int_{\mathbb{V}}|\nabla U|^2d^3x = \oint_{\mathbb{S}} U \frac{\partial }{\partial n} U da

Use Dirichlet B.C. (U=0 on S) (U=0 \text{ on } \mathbb{S})

∫V∣∇⃗U∣2d3x=0⇒∇⃗U=0⇒U=Φ2−Φ1=0 \int_{\mathbb{V}} |\vec{\nabla}U|^2 d^3x = 0 \Rightarrow \vec{\nabla}U = 0 \Rightarrow U = \Phi_2-\Phi_1 = 0

Use Neumann B.C. (∂U∂n=0 on S) (\frac{\partial U}{\partial n}=0 \text{ on } \mathbb{S})

∫V∣∇⃗U∣2d3x=const⇒∇⃗U=const⇒U=Φ2−Φ1=const \int_{\mathbb{V}} |\vec{\nabla}U|^2 d^3x = const \Rightarrow \vec{\nabla}U = const \Rightarrow U = \Phi_2-\Phi_1 = const

Exercise

∇⃗∣x⃗−x′⃗∣n=n∣x⃗−x′⃗∣n−2(x⃗−x′⃗) \vec{\nabla}|\vec{x}-\vec{x'}|^n = n|\vec{x}-\vec{x'}|^{n-2}(\vec{x}-\vec{x'})

solution

∇⃗∣x⃗−x′⃗∣n=[∂∂xex⃗+∂∂yey⃗+∂∂zez⃗][(x−x′)2+(y−y′)2+(z−z′)2]n2=[2(x−x′)ex⃗+2(y−y′)ey⃗+2(z−z′)ez⃗][(x−x′)2+(y−y′)2+(z−z′)2]n2−1=n∣x⃗−x′⃗∣n−2(x⃗−x′⃗) \begin{aligned} \vec{\nabla}|\vec{x}-\vec{x'}|^n &=\left[ \frac{\partial}{\partial x} \vec{e_x} + \frac{\partial}{\partial y} \vec{e_y} + \frac{\partial}{\partial z} \vec{e_z} \right] \left[ (x-x')^2 + (y-y')^2 + (z-z')^2 \right]^{\frac{n}{2}} \\ \displaystyle &= \left[ 2(x-x') \vec{e_x} + 2(y-y') \vec{e_y} + 2(z-z') \vec{e_z} \right] \left[ (x-x')^2 + (y-y')^2 + (z-z')^2 \right]^{\frac{n}{2}-1} \\ \displaystyle &= n|\vec{x}-\vec{x'}|^{n-2}(\vec{x}-\vec{x'}) \end{aligned}

Note : ∇⃗ \vec{\nabla} act on x⃗ \vec{x} ; ∇′⃗ \vec{\nabla'} act on x′⃗ \vec{x'}

∇′⃗∣x⃗−x′⃗∣n=−∇⃗∣x⃗−x′⃗∣n \vec{\nabla'}|\vec{x}-\vec{x'}|^n = - \vec{\nabla}|\vec{x}-\vec{x'}|^n

e.g. : n=−1 n = -1

∇⃗1∣x⃗−x′⃗∣=x⃗−x′⃗∣x⃗−x′⃗∣3(=−er⃗r2) \vec{\nabla} \frac{1}{|\vec{x}-\vec{x'}|} = \frac{\vec{x}-\vec{x'}}{|\vec{x}-\vec{x'}|^3} (=-\frac{\vec{e_r}}{r^2}) ⇒E⃗=14πϵ0∫ρ(x′⃗)(x⃗−x′⃗)∣x⃗−x′⃗∣3d3x′=∇⃗14πϵ0∫ρ(x′⃗)∣x⃗−x′⃗∣d3x′=−∇⃗Φ \Rightarrow \vec{E} = \frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0} \int \frac{\rho (\vec{x'})(\vec{x}-\vec{x'})}{|\vec{x}-\vec{x'}|^3} d^3x' = \vec{\nabla} \frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0} \int \frac{\rho (\vec{x'})}{|\vec{x}-\vec{x'}|} d^3x' = -\vec{\nabla}\Phi

# 1.10 Formal Solution of Electrostatic Boundary-Value Problem with Green Function

Green Function : a class of function satisfying

∇′2G(x⃗,x′⃗)=4πδ(x⃗−x′⃗) \nabla '^2 G(\vec{x},\vec{x'}) = 4 \pi \delta (\vec{x}-\vec{x'})

where

G(x⃗,x′⃗)=1∣x⃗,x′⃗∣+F(x⃗,x′⃗) G(\vec{x},\vec{x'}) = \frac{1}{|\vec{x},\vec{x'}|} + F(\vec{x},\vec{x'}) ∇′2F(x⃗,x′⃗)=0→satisfying Laplace equation \nabla'^2 F (\vec{x},\vec{x'}) = 0 \rightarrow \text{satisfying Laplace equation}

Let

{ψ=G(x⃗,x′⃗)ϕ=Φ \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} \psi = G(\vec{x},\vec{x'})\\ \phi = \Phi \end{array} \right. ⇒∫V(Φ∇′2G⏞−4πδ(x⃗−x′⃗)−G∇′2Φ⏞−ρ(x′⃗))d3x′=∮S(Φ∂∂n′G−G∂∂n′Φ)da′ \Rightarrow \int_{\mathbb{V}}(\Phi \overbrace{\nabla'^2 G}^{-4 \pi \delta(\vec{x}-\vec{x'})} - G \overbrace{\nabla'^2 \Phi}^{-\rho(\vec{x'})}) d^3x' = \oint_{\mathbb{S}}(\Phi \frac{\partial}{\partial n'}G-G\frac{\partial}{\partial n'}\Phi)da' ⇒Φ(x⃗)=14πϵ0∫Vρ(x′⃗)G(x⃗,x′⃗)d3x′+14π∮S[G(x⃗,x′⃗)∂Φ(x′⃗)∂n′−Φ(x′⃗)∂G(x⃗,x′⃗)∂n′]da′ \Rightarrow \Phi(\vec{x}) = \frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 }\int_{\mathbb{V}} \rho (\vec{x'}) G(\vec{x},\vec{x'}) d^3x' + \frac{1}{4 \pi} \oint_{\mathbb{S}}\left[ G(\vec{x},\vec{x'}) \frac{\partial \Phi (\vec{x'})}{\partial n'} - \Phi(\vec{x'}) \frac{\partial G (\vec{x},\vec{x'})}{\partial n'} \right] da'

Using the additional freedom F(x⃗,x′⃗) F(\vec{x},\vec{x'}) in G(x⃗,x′⃗) G(\vec{x},\vec{x'}) to obtain results with the specific B.C. ( Dirichlet or Neumann B.C. )

  • Dirichlet B.C. GD(x⃗,x′⃗)=0 for x′⃗ on S G_D(\vec{x},\vec{x'}) = 0 \text{ for } \vec{x'} \text{ on } \mathbb{S}
Φ(x⃗)=14πϵ0∫Vρ(x′⃗)GD(x⃗,x′⃗)d3x′−14π∮S[Φ(x′⃗)∂GD(x⃗,x′⃗)∂n′]da′ \Phi(\vec{x}) = \frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 }\int_{\mathbb{V}} \rho (\vec{x'}) G_D(\vec{x},\vec{x'}) d^3x' - \frac{1}{4 \pi} \oint_{\mathbb{S}}\left[ \Phi(\vec{x'}) \frac{\partial G_D (\vec{x},\vec{x'})}{\partial n'} \right] da'
  • Neumann B.C. ∂GN(x⃗,x′⃗)∂n′da′=−4πAS for x′⃗ on S\displaystyle \frac{\partial G_N(\vec{x},\vec{x'})}{\partial n'} da'= -\frac{4 \pi}{A_S} \text{ for } \vec{x'} \text{ on } \mathbb{S}
∵ \because Gauss's theorem ∮S∂GN(x⃗−x′⃗)∂n′da′=∮S∇′⃗GN(x⃗,x′⃗)⋅n′⃗da′ \oint_{\mathbb{S}} \frac{\partial G_N(\vec{x}-\vec{x'})}{\partial n'} da' = \oint_{\mathbb{S}} \vec{\nabla '} G_N (\vec{x},\vec{x'}) \cdot \vec{n'} da' =∫−V−4πδ(x⃗,x′⃗)d3x′=−4π≠0 = \int_{-\mathbb{V}} -4 \pi \delta (\vec{x},\vec{x'}) d^3x' = -4 \pi \ne 0 Φ(x⃗)=⟨Φ⟩S+14πϵ0∫Vρ(x′⃗)GN(x⃗,x′⃗)d3x′+14π∮S∂Φ(x′⃗)∂n′GN(x⃗,x′⃗)da′ \Phi(\vec{x}) = \langle \Phi \rangle_{\mathbb{S}} + \frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0} \int_{\mathbb{V}} \rho (\vec{x'}) G_N (\vec{x},\vec{x'}) d^3x' + \frac{1}{4 \pi} \oint_{\mathbb{S}}\frac{\partial \Phi(\vec{x'})}{\partial n'}G_N (\vec{x},\vec{x'})da'

# 1.11 Electrostatic Potential Energy and Energy Density, Capacitance

  • Potential Energy
    Work done on a point charge qi q_i ; from infinity (Φ(∞)=0) (\Phi (\infty) = 0) to xi⃗ \vec{x_i} in a region of localized E⃗ \vec{E} field described by Φ \Phi
⇒Wi=qiΦ(xi⃗) \Rightarrow W_i = q_i \Phi(\vec{x_i})

Adding charges (q1,q2,...,qn) (q_1,q_2,...,q_n) to (x1⃗,x2⃗,...,xn⃗) (\vec{x_1},\vec{x_2},...,\vec{x_n}) one by one

Potential experienced by the charge qi q_i :

Φ(xi⃗)=14πϵ0∑j=1i−1qj∣xi⃗−xj⃗∣ \Phi (\vec{x_i}) = \frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0} \sum_{j=1}^{i-1} \frac{q_j}{|\vec{x_i}-\vec{x_j}|}

total potential energy

W=14πϵ0∑i=1n∑j<iqiqj∣xi⃗−xj⃗∣=18πϵ0∑i∑j≠iqiqj∣xi⃗−xj⃗∣ W= \frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0} \sum_{i=1}^{n} \sum_{j<i} \frac{q_i q_j}{|\vec{x_i}-\vec{x_j}|}= \frac{1}{8 \pi \epsilon_0} \sum_{i} \sum_{j \ne i} \frac{q_i q_j}{|\vec{x_i}-\vec{x_j}|}

energy can be negative (due to forces acting between the charges)

generalize to continuous charge

⇒W=18πϵ0∬ρ(x⃗)ρ(x′⃗)∣x⃗−x′⃗∣d3x d3x′=12ρ(x⃗)Φ(x⃗)d3x \Rightarrow W = \frac{1}{8 \pi \epsilon_0} \iint \frac{\rho(\vec{x})\rho(\vec{x'})}{|\vec{x}-\vec{x'}|} d^3x \,d^3x' = \frac{1}{2} \rho (\vec{x}) \Phi (\vec{x}) d^3x

Alternatively , in terms of E⃗ \vec{E}

∵∇⃗⋅(E⃗Φ)=(∇⃗⋅E⃗)Φ+E⃗⋅(∇⃗Φ) \because \vec{\nabla} \cdot (\vec{E} \Phi) = (\vec{\nabla}\cdot \vec{E}) \Phi + \vec{E} \cdot (\vec{\nabla}\Phi) ⇒W=−ϵ0∫Φ∇2Φd3x=ϵ02{−∫E⃗⋅∇⃗Φd3x+∫∇⃗⋅(E⃗Φ)d3x} \Rightarrow W = - \epsilon_0 \int \Phi \nabla^2 \Phi d^3x = \frac{\epsilon_0}{2}\left\{ -\int \vec{E} \cdot \vec{\nabla} \Phi d^3 x + \int \vec{\nabla} \cdot (\vec{E} \Phi) d^3x \right\} ϵ02∫V∣E⃗∣2d3x+ϵ02∮SΦE⃗⋅n⃗ da=ϵ02∫all space∣E⃗∣2 d3x \frac{\epsilon_0}{2}\int_{\mathbb{V}}|\vec{E}|^2 d^3x +\frac{\epsilon_0}{2} \oint_{\mathbb{S}} \Phi \vec{E} \cdot \vec{n} \, da = \frac{\epsilon_0}{2} \int_{\text{all space}}|\vec{E}|^2 \, d^3x ∴W=12∫ρ(x⃗)Φ(x⃗) d3x=ϵ02∫∣E⃗∣2 d3x=∫WE d3x \therefore W = \frac{1}{2} \int \rho (\vec{x}) \Phi (\vec{x}) \, d^3x = \frac{\epsilon_0}{2} \int |\vec{E}|^2 \, d^3x = \int W_E \, d^3x

Energy density of E⃗ \vec{E} : WE=ϵ02∣E⃗∣2 W_E = \frac{\epsilon_0}{2} |\vec{E}|^2

  • Self-Energy Contribution to the Energy Density
    Derivation of the electric field energy from ρ(x⃗) \rho (\vec{x}) :
    Consider building the system of ρ(x⃗) \rho (\vec{x}) through the process
κρ(x⃗)κΦ(x⃗)κ=0⟶+ρ(x⃗)dκκρ(x⃗)κΦ(x⃗)κ=dκ⟶+ρ(x⃗)dκκρ(x⃗)κΦ(x⃗)κ=2dκ⟶...⟶ρ(x⃗)Φ(x⃗)κ=1 \underset{\textcolor{blue}{\kappa = 0}}{ \begin{aligned} \kappa \rho (\vec{x}) \\ \kappa \Phi (\vec{x}) \end{aligned}} \overset{+ \rho (\vec{x})d\kappa }{\longrightarrow} \underset{\textcolor{blue}{\kappa = d \kappa}}{ \begin{aligned} \kappa \rho (\vec{x}) \\ \kappa \Phi (\vec{x}) \end{aligned}} \overset{+ \rho (\vec{x})d\kappa }{\longrightarrow} \underset{\textcolor{blue}{\kappa = 2d \kappa}}{ \begin{aligned} \kappa \rho (\vec{x}) \\ \kappa \Phi (\vec{x}) \end{aligned}} \longrightarrow ...\longrightarrow \underset{\textcolor{blue}{\kappa = 1}}{ \begin{aligned} \rho (\vec{x}) \\ \Phi (\vec{x}) \end{aligned}} dW=∫VκΦ(x⃗)ρ(x⃗)dκ d3x dW= \int_{\mathbb{V}} \kappa \Phi (\vec{x}) \rho (\vec{x}) d \kappa \, d^3x ∴W=∫κ=0κ=1dW=∫V∫κ=01κ dκρ(x⃗)Φ(x⃗)d3x=12∫Φ(x⃗)ρ(x⃗)d3x \therefore W = \int_{\kappa = 0}^{\kappa = 1} dW = \int_{\mathbb{V}} \int _{\kappa = 0}^{1} \kappa \, d \kappa \rho (\vec{x}) \Phi (\vec{x}) d^3x = \frac{1}{2} \int \Phi (\vec{x}) \rho (\vec{x}) d^3x

Using Poisson Equation

⇒−ϵ02∫Φ(x⃗)∇2Φ(x⃗)d3x \Rightarrow - \frac{\epsilon_0}{2} \int \Phi(\vec{x}) \nabla^2 \Phi(\vec{x}) d^3x

Using Green’s first identity with ϕ=ψ=Φ \phi = \psi =\Phi

⇒ϵ02∫V(∇⃗Φ)(∇⃗Φ)d3x−ϵ02∮SΦ∂Φ∂nda⏟=0 , taking all space \Rightarrow \frac{\epsilon_0}{2} \int_{\mathbb{V}}(\vec{\nabla} \Phi)(\vec{\nabla} \Phi) d^3x \underbrace{-\frac{\epsilon_0}{2} \oint_{\mathbb{S}} \Phi \frac{\partial \Phi}{\partial n} da }_{=0 \text{ , taking all space}}
  • Capacitance
    A system of a conductors , each with potential Vi V_i ,Charge Qi Q_i
    By the principle of superposition ,
Vi=∑j=1nPijQj⟹inversionQi=CijQj V_i = \sum_{j=1}^{n} P_{ij} Q_j \overset{\text{inversion}}{\Longrightarrow} Q_i = C_{ij} Q_j Pij↔Cij P_{ij} \leftrightarrow C_{ij} : geometric quantities Cii \\ C_{ii} : capacities / capacitances Cij(i≠j) \\ C_{ij} (i \ne j) : coefficients of induction / mutual cross capacitance
  • Electrostatic potential energy of the n-conductor system
→Wi=12∫ρi(x⃗)Φi(x⃗)d3x=12QiVi \rightarrow W_i = \frac{1}{2} \int \rho_i (\vec{x}) \Phi_i (\vec{x}) d^3x = \frac{1}{2} Q_i V_i W=12∑i=1nQiVi=12∑i=1n∑j=1nCijViVj W = \frac{1}{2} \sum_{i=1}^{n} Q_i V_i = \frac{1}{2} \sum_{i=1}^{n} \sum_{j=1}^{n} C_{ij} V_i V_j
  • Calculate force via change in the potential energy
    e.g. : force per unit area on the surface of a conductor with charge density σ(x⃗) \sigma (\vec{x})
(E2⃗−E1⃗)⋅n⃗=σϵ0 (\vec{E_2}-\vec{E_1}) \cdot \vec{n} = \frac{\sigma}{\epsilon_0}

immediately outside a conductor

E⃗=σ(x⃗)ϵ0n⃗ \vec{E} = \frac{\sigma(\vec{x})}{\epsilon_0} \vec{n}

ref: 古典電力學一 王喬萱教授 上課講義