Chapter 2

Electrostatics II. Potential Boundary

Value Problems
2.1 Introduction
In Chapter 1, a general formulation was developed to nd the scalar potential 1(r) and consequent
electric eld E = \1 for a given static charge distribution j(r). In a system involving conductor
electrodes, often the potential 1 is specied on electrode surfaces and one is asked to nd the po-
tential in the space o the electrodes. Such problems are called potential boundary value problems.
In this case, the surface charge distribution on the electrodes is unknown and can only be found
after the potential and electric eld have been found in the vicinity of the electrode surfaces from
o
c
= -
0
1
a
, (C/m
2
)
where
1
a
=
01
0:
,
is the electric eld component normal to the conducting electrode surface with : the normal coor-
dinate.
If the potential is specied on a closed surface, the potential o the surface is uniquely deter-
mined in terms of the surface potential. This is known as Dirichlets boundary value problem and
most problems we will consider belong to this category. Solving Dirichlets problems is greatly
facilitated by nding a suitable Greens function for a given boundary shape. However, except
for simple geometries (e.g., plane, sphere, cylinder, etc.), nding Greens functions analytically is
not an easy task. For complicated electrode shapes, potential problems often have to be solved
numerically.
1
Specifying the normal derivative 01,0: on a closed surface also uniquely determines the poten-
tial elsewhere. This category of boundary value problems is called Neumann problem. Physically,
specifying the normal derivative of the potential on a closed surface corresponds to specifying the
surface charge distribution on the surface through
o = -
0
01
0:
.
Then, the problem is reduced to nding the potential due to a prescribed charge distribution as
worked out in Chapter 1.
Specifying both the potential itself and its normal derivative everywhere on a closed surface is
in general overdetermining. However, in some problems, the potential is known in one part of a
closed surface and its normal derivative in the remaining part. This constitutes the so-called mixed
boundary value problem.
By introducing suitable coordinates transformation, some potential problems can be reduced
to one dimensional, that is, the potential becomes a total function of a single coordinate vari-
able. This happens if the Laplace equation and potential are completely separable, 1(n
1
, n
2
, n
3
) =
1
1
(n
1
)1
2
(n
2
)1
3
(n
3
). There are some 30 known rectilinear coordinate systems developed in the past
for specic purposes. As one example, we will study the oblate spheroidal coordinates because of
its wide variety of applications in electrostatics and magnetostatics.
2.2 Dirichlet Problems and Greens Functions
If a charge is given to a conductor, the potential of the conductor becomes constant everywhere after
a short transient time as shown in Chapter 1. Electrostatic state is thus quickly established. Since
the volume charge density j should vanish in a conductor, all of the charge given to a conductor
must reside entirely on the conductor surface in the form of singular surface charge density o
(C/m
2
). The corresponding volume charge density involves a delta function
j = oc(::
c
),
where : is the coordinate normal to the surface and :
c
indicates the location of the surface.
After static condition is established, the volume charge density and the electric eld in a con-
ductor both vanish. The potential of a conductor thus becomes constant 1 = 1
c
= const. If a
charge is given to an isolated conductor, the potential of the conductor relative to zero potential
at innity is uniquely determined and the proportional constant C denes the self-capacitance of
the conductor,
C =

1
c
, (F). (2.1)
2
Let us consider a trivial case, a conducting sphere of radius a carrying a charge . The potential
outside the sphere is given by
1(r) =

4-
0
1
r
, r _ a. (2.2)
The sphere potential is
1
c
=

4-
0
a
, (2.3)
which determines the self-capacitance of the sphere,
C = 4-
0
a, (F). (2.4)
The outer potential 1(r) can be written in the form
1(r) =
a
r
1
c
, r a, (2.5)
which indicates that the potential is uniquely determined if the sphere potential 1
c
is known. In
general, if the potential is specied everywhere on a closed surface, the potential elsewhere o
the surface is uniquely determined in terms of the surface potential 1
c
(r
c
) where r
c
denotes the
coordinates on the closed surface. This is known as Dirichlets theorem and nding a potential for
given boundary potential distribution on a closed surface is called Dirichlets problem.
The same problem can also be solved in terms of the electric eld on the sphere surface,
1
v
=
1
4-
0

a
2
, (2.6)
which can be replaced with a surface charge,
o = -
0
1
v
=

4a
2
, (C/m
2
). (2.7)
The potential due to the uniform surface charge is
1(r) =
1
4-
0
_
o
[r r
0
[
do
=
o
4-
0
2a
2
_

0
1
_
r
2
a
2
2ar cos 0
sin0d0
=

4-
0
r
, (r a) (2.8)
where 0 is measured from the direction of r. (This is allowed because of symmetry. For r < a, the
integral yields
1(r) =

4-
0
a
= const., (r < a, interior)
3
which is also an expected result.) Since
1
v
=
01
0r
=
01
0:
, (2.9)
where : is the normal coordinate on the surface directed away from the volume of interest, the
potential can be rewritten as
1(r) =
1
4
_
S
1
[r r
0
[
01
0:
do
0
. (2.10)
As this simple example indicates, potential boundary value problems can be solved in terms of
either the surface potential 1
c
or its normal derivative, 01,0:. The latter method may be regarded
as a boundary value problem for the electric eld.
Let us revisit the potential due to a prescribed charge distribution,
1(r) =
1
4-
0
_
j(r
0
)
[r r
0
[
d\
0
. (2.11)
The potential can be understood as a convolution between the charge density distribution j(r) and
the function
G(r, r
0
) =
1
4
1
[r r
0
[
, (2.12)
which is the particular solution to the singular Poissons equation
\
2
G = c(r r
0
), (2.13)
subject to the boundary condition that G vanish at innity. The function G is called Greens
function. Physically, the Greens function dened as a solution to the singular Poissons equation
is nothing but the potential due to a point charge placed at r = r
0
. In potential boundary value
problems, the charge density j(r) is unknown and one has to devise an alternative formulation
in terms of boundary potential 1
c
(r). It is noted that the Greens function in Eq. (2.12) is the
particular solution to the singular Poissons equation and we still have freedom to add general
solutions satisfying Laplace equation,
G = G
j
G
j
, (2.14)
where G
j
is the particular solution and G
j
is a collection of general solutions satisfying
\
2
G
j
= 0. (2.15)
This freedom will play an important role in constructing a Greens function suitable for a given
boundary shape as we will see shortly. In doing so, we exploit the following theorem:
4
Theorem 1 Greens Theorem: For arbitrary scalar functions c and c, the following identity holds,
_
\
_
c\
2
c c\
2
c
_
d\ =
_
S
(c\c c\c) dS. (2.16)
Proof of this theorem goes as follows. Gauss theorem applied to the function c\c gives
_
\
\ (c\c)d\ =
_
S
(c\c) dS. (2.17)
The LHS may be expanded as
_
\
\ (c\c)d\ =
_
\
_
\c \c c\
2
c
_
d\. (2.18)
Therefore,
_
\
_
\c \c c\
2
c
_
d\ =
_
S
(c\c) dS. (2.19)
Exchanging c and c,
_
\
_
\c \c c\
2
c
_
d\ =
_
S
(c\c) dS. (2.20)
Subtracting Eq. (2.20) from Eq. (2.19) yields
_
\
_
c\
2
c c\
2
c
_
d\ =
_
S
(c\c c\c) dS, (2.21)
which is the desired identity.
Figure 2-1: 1
c
(r
0
) is the potential specied on a closed surafce o, n is the coordinate normal to the
surface directed away from the volume wherein the potential 1(r) is to be evaluated.
We now apply the formula to electrostatic potential problems. Let c be the Greens function
5
c = G, satisfying
\
2
G = c(r r
0
), (2.22)
and c = 1 be the scalar potential satisfying Poissons equation
\
2
1 =
j
-
0
. (2.23)
Then, the terms in the LHS of Eq. (2.21) become
_
\
1\
2
v
0 Gd\
0
=
_
\
1
_
r
0
_
c(r r
0
)d\
0
= 1(r),
provided the coordinates r resides in the volume \ where we wish to nd the potential, and
_
G\
2
1d\
0
=
1
-
0
_
Gj(r
0
)d\
0
. (2.24)
The RHS of Eq. (2.21) reduces to
_
S
_
1
0G
0:
G
01
0:
_
do, (2.25)
where 1 is the potential on the closed surface and : is the coordinate normal to the surface directed
away from the volume of interest as indicated in Fig.2-1. Therefore, the solution for the potential
1(r) is given by
1(r) =
1
-
0
_
\
Gj(r
0
)d\
0

_
S
_
1
c
0G
0:
G
01
c
0:
_
do. (2.26)
At this stage, the Greens function is still arbitrary except it should satisfy the singular Poissons
equation in Eq. (2.22). The rst term in the RHS allows evaluation of the potential for a given
charge distribution as we saw earlier. The surface integral involves the potential on the closed
surface 1
c
and its normal derivative, namely, the normal component of the electric eld at the
surface.
In usual boundary value problems, the potential on a closed surface is specied as a function
of the surface coordinates. In this case, it is convenient to choose the Greens function so that it
vanishes on the surface,
G = 0 on o.
Then the last term in Eq. (2.26) vanishes, and the solution for the potential becomes
1(r) =
1
4-
0
_
\
j(r
0
)
[r r
0
[
d\
0

_
S
1
c
0G
0:
do
0
, G = 0 on o. (2.27)
6
In particular, if there are no charges in the region of concern j = 0, the potential is uniquely
determined in terms of the surface potential alone,
1(r) =
_
S
1
c
0G
0:
do
0
, j = 0 in \, G = 0 on o. (2.28)
We have a freedom to make such a choice for the Greens function that it vanish on the closed
surface o through adding general solutions to the particular solution of the singular Poissons
equation. Therefore, solving a potential boundary value problems for a given closed surface o boils
down to nding a Greens function satisfying
\
2
G = c(r r
0
), G = 0 on o. (2.29)
Once such an appropriate Greens function is found for a given surface shape o, the potential at
arbitrary point can be found from Eq. (2.28) for a specied potential distribution 1
c
(r) on the
surface.
In the following, Greens functions for some simple surface shapes will be found. It is noted
that three dimensional Greens functions have dimensions of 1/length, two dimensional Greens
functions are dimensionless, and one dimensional Greens functions have dimensions of length.
2.3 Examples of Greens Functions
2.3.1 Plane
Suppose that the potential is specied everywhere on an innite (r, j) plane, 1
c
(r, j). The plane
is closed at innity and the method of Greens function is applicable. The Greens function is to
be found as a solution to the equation
\
2
G = c(r r
0
)c(j j
0
)c(. .
0
), (2.30)
with the boundary condition G = 0, . = 0. Mathematically, the Greens function is equivalent to
the potential due to a point charge placed near a grounded conducting plate that can be readily
worked out using the method of image as shown in Fig.2-2,
G(r, r
0
) =
1
4
_
1
_
(r r
0
)
2
(j j
0
)
2
(. .
0
)
2

1
_
(r r
0
)
2
(j j
0
)
2
(. .
0
)
2
_
, (2.31)
where the second term in the RHS is the contribution from the image charge at the mirror point.
Note that the Greens function is reciprocal and remains unchanged against the coordinates inter-
7
change,
G(r, r
0
) = G(r
0
, r).
This is expected from the fact that the delta function in the original singular Poissons equation is
even,
c(r r
0
) = c(r
0
r).
In the upper region . 0,
0G
0:
=
0G
0.
0

:
0
=0
=
1
2
.
[(r r
0
)
2
(j j
0
)
2
.
2
[
32
. (2.32)
Therefore, for a surface potential 1
c
(r
0
, j
0
) specied as a function of (r
0
, j
0
), the potential in the
region . 0 is given by
1(r) =
.
2
_
1
1
dr
0
_
1
1
dj
0
1
c
(r
0
, j
0
)
[(r r
0
)
2
(j j
0
)
2
.
2
[
32
. (2.33)
Figure 2-2: Image charge for a large, grounded conducting plate. The potential due to and
vanishes at the plate.
Let us apply this formula to the boundary condition on the (r, j) plane,
1
c
(j) =
_
\, j < a
0, j a
(2.34)
where j =
_
r
2
j
2
is the radial distance on the plane as shown in Fig. 2-3. Physically, the
boundary condition describes a large conducting plate which is grounded except for a circular
region of radius a whose potential is maintained at \. The potential on the .-axis can be found
8
Figure 2-3: A large conducting plate is grounded except for a circular region which is at a potential
\.
easily,
1(.) =
.\
2
_
o
0
2j
0
dj
0
(j
02
.
2
)
32
= \
_
1
.
_
.
2
a
2
_
, . 0. (2.35)
The axial potential in the lower region . < 0 can be found by observing the up-down symmetry
and for both regions,
1(.) = \
_
1
[.[
_
.
2
a
2
_
. (2.36)
Then, the potential at arbitrary point (r, 0) is
1(r, 0) =
_

_
\
_
1
r
a
[1
1
(cos 0)[
1
2
_
r
a
_
3
[1
3
(cos 0)[
3
8
_
r
a
_
5
[1
5
(cos 0)[
_
, r < a
\
_
1
2
_
a
r
_
2
[1
1
(cos 0)[
3
8
_
a
r
_
4
[1
3
(cos 0)[
_
, r a
(2.37)
Note that at r a, the potential is of dipole type,
1(r a) _
1
r
2
[cos 0[ . (2.38)
This problem should not be confused with the potential due to an isolated charged conducting disk
which will be discussed later. The potential and electric eld in the upper half region are identical
to those realized by an ideally thin circular capacitor whose top plate is at a potential \ and the
lower plate at \. The appearance of the dipole potential is thus an expected result. (For a thin
capacitor with plate separation distance c, the electric eld between the plates diverges but the
product 1c = 2\ remains constant. Such a structure is called a double layer.)
9
2.3.2 Sphere
Figure 2-4: The image of charge with respect to a grounded conducting sphere is
0
= a,r
0
located at a
2
r
0
,r
02
where r
0
is the location of the charge .
In nding a Greens function for a given surface shape, the method of images is most conveniently
exploited. In the case of a sphere having a radius a, the Greens function can be found as a solution
for the potential due to a charge placed at a distance r
0
from the center of a grounded conducting
sphere. In the case of a sphere having radius a, an image charge

0
=
a
r
0
, (2.39)
placed at
r
00
=
a
2
r
02
r
0
, (2.40)
together with the charge , makes the surface potential vanish. This is illustrated in Fig.2-4. The
potential due to charge placed near a grounded conducting sphere is thus equivalent to that due
to two charges, and its image charge
0
, and is given by
1(r) =

4-
0
_
_
1
[r r
0
[

a
r
0
[r r
00
[
_
_
=

4-
0
_
_
1
_
r
2
r
02
2rr
0
cos

1
_
(rr
0
,a)
2
a
2
2rr
0
cos
_
_
, (2.41)
10
which readily yields the Greens function for a sphere,
G(r, r
0
) =
1
4
_
_
1
_
r
2
r
02
2rr
0
cos

1
_
(rr
0
,a)
2
a
2
2rr
0
cos
_
_
. (2.42)
Here is the angle between the two position vectors r = (r, 0, c) and r
0
= (r
0
, 0
0
, c
0
). Its cosine
value is
cos = cos 0 cos 0
0
sin0 sin0
0
cos(c c
0
). (2.43)
The Greens function indeed vanishes on the sphere surface r = a or r
0
= a. Again, the Greens
function is invariant against coordinates exchange, r r
0
, that is, Greens functions are reciprocal.
For exterior (r a) potential problems, the normal gradient 0G,0: is
0G
0:
=
0G
0r
0

v
0
=o
=
1
4
a
r
2
a
(r
2
a
2
2ar cos )
32
, r a (2.44)
and for interior (r < a) problems,
0G
0:
=
0G
0r
0

v
0
=o
=
1
4
r
2
a
a
(r
2
a
2
2ar cos )
32
, r < a. (2.45)
Note that the normal coordinate : is directed away from the volume of interest. If the surface
potential is specied as a function of 0
0
and c
0
, 1
c
(0
0
, c
0
), and there are no charges, the exterior
potential at an arbitrary point r = (r, 0, c) can be found from
1(r) =
_
1
c
0G
0:
do
=
1
4
_
a(r
2
a
2
)
(r
2
a
2
2ar cos )
32
1
c
(0
0
, c
0
)d\
0
=
a(r
2
a
2
)
4
_

0
sin0
0
d0
0
_
2
0
dc
0
1
c
(0
0
, c
0
)
(r
2
a
2
2ar cos )
32
. (2.46)
Recalling the expansion of the function 1, [r r
0
[ in terms of the spherical harmonic functions
1
[r r
0
[
=

|,n
4
2| 1
r
0|
r
|+1
1
|n
(0, c)1

|n
(0
0
, c
0
), r r
0
(2.47)
11
the exterior potential can be decomposed into multipole potentials,
1(r, 0, c) =

|,n
_
a
r
_
|+1
1
|n
(0, c)
_
1
c
(0
0
, c
0
)1

|n
(0
0
, c
0
)d\
0
, r a. (2.48)
The interior potential can be found using the expansion
1
[r r
0
[
=

|,n
4
2| 1
r
|
r
0|+1
1
|n
(0, c)1

|n
(0
0
, c
0
), r < r
0
, (2.49)
1(r, 0, c) =

|,n
_
r
a
_
|
1
|n
(0, c)
_
1
c
(0
0
, c
0
)1

|n
(0
0
, c
0
)d\
0
, r < a. (2.50)
Example 2 Charge near a Floating Conducting Sphere
To become familiar with the Greens function method, let us consider a somewhat trivial problem
of nding the potential when a charge is placed at a distance d from the center of a oating
conducting sphere of radius a. The charge and its image
0
=
o
o
at (a,d)
2
d make the sphere
potential 0 as we have just seen. However, since the oating sphere should carry no net charge, a
charge
0
=
o
o
must be placed at the center of the sphere which raises the sphere potential to
1
c
=

0
4-
0
a
=

4-
0
d
, d a.
Therefore, the exterior potential can be found by summing contributions from , its image
0
and
the charge
0
at the center,
1(r) =
1
4-
0
_

[r d[

a,d
[r (a,d)
2
d[

a,d
r
_
.
In this expression, the function
1
4
_
1
[r d[

a
d
1
[r (a,d)
2
d[
_
,
is the Greens function which vanishes on the sphere surface, r = a. The last term is in the form
1
c
a
r
,
where
1
c
=

4-
0
d
, (independent of a)
12
is the surface potential. Indeed,

_
1
c
0G
0:
do =
a(r
2
a
2
)
4
_

0
sin0
0
d0
0
_
2
0
dc
0
1
c
(0
0
, c
0
)
(r
2
a
2
2ar cos )
32
= 1
c
a(r
2
a
2
)
2
_

0
1
_
r
2
a
2
2ar cos 0
0
_
32
sin0
0
d0
0
= 1
c
a
r
,
where 0
0
is measured from the direction of the vector d. (This is allowed because of the symmetry.)
Example 3 Specied Potential on a Sphere Surface
Figure 2-5: 1
c
= \ for 0 < 0 < ,2, \ for ,2 < 0 < .
Let us nd the potential outside a spherical shell of radius a whose top half is maintained at
potential \ and lower half at \,
1
c
(0
0
) =
_
_
_
\, 0 _ 0
0
_

2
,
\,

2
_ 0
0
_ ,
(2.51)
as shown in Fig.2-5. Because of axial symmetry, only : = 0 terms survive the integration over
the azimuthal angle c
0
. Also, because of up-down antisymmetry, only odd | terms survive the
integration over the polar angle 0
0
. Noting
_
1
c
(0
0
, c
0
)1

|0
(0
0
, c
0
)d\
0
= 2 2\
_
2| 1
4
_
1
0
1
|
(j)dj, | = 1, 8, , ,
we readily nd the exterior potential,
1(r, 0) = \
_
8
2
_
a
r
_
2
1
1
(cos 0)
7
8
_
a
r
_
4
1
3
(cos 0)
_
, r _ a. (2.52)
13
The interior potential is
1(r, 0) = \
_
8
2
r
a
1
1
(cos 0)
7
8
_
r
a
_
3
1
3
(cos 0)
_
, r _ a. (2.53)
The surface charge density on the sphere can be found from the normal component of the
electric eld,
o = -
0
01
0r

v=o+0
=
-
0
\
a
_
81
1
(cos 0)
7
2
1
3
(cos 0)
_
.
The total surface charge on the upper hemisphere
= 2a
2
_
2
0
o(0) sin0d0,
simply diverges (albeit only logarithmically) and it is not possible to dene the capacitance of the
hemispheres. This is because of the assumption of ideally small gap separating the two hemispheres.
If a small gap c a is assumed, a nite capacitance containing a factor ln(a,c) emerges.
2.3.3 Interior of Cylinder of Finite Length
Figure 2-6: Cylinder of a nite length.
14
The Greens function for the interior of a cylinder of radius a and length | shown in Fig.2-6 can
be found as a solution for the following singular Poissons equation
\
2
G =
_
0
2
0j
2

1
j
0
0j

1
j
2
0
2
0c
2

0
2
0.
2
_
G =
c(j j
0
)
j
c(c

c
0
)c(. .
0
), (2.54)
with the boundary condition
G = 0, j = a, . = 0 and |. (2.55)
Since the Greens function should be periodic with respect to c and should also be invariant with
respect to exchange of c and c
0
, the angular dependence can be assumed to be cos[:(cc
0
)[ where
: is an integer. Assuming the following separation of variables,
G(r, r
0
) =

n
1
n
(j)7
n
(.) cos :(c c
0
), (2.56)
we see that the radial function 1
n
(j) and the axial function 7
n
(.) satisfy, respectively,
_
d
2
dj
2

1
j
d
dj

:
2
j
2
/
2
_
1
n
(j) = 0, (2.57)
_
d
2
d.
2
/
2
_
7
n
(.) = 0, (2.58)
where /
2
is a separation constant which can be either positive or negative.
Let us rst consider the case /
2
0. Solutions for 1
n
(j) which satises the boundary condition
1
n
(j = a) = 0 is the :-th order Bessel function,
1
na
(j, j
0
) = J
n
_
r
na
j
a
_
J
n
_
r
na
j
0
a
_
, (2.59)
where r
na
is the :-th root of J
n
(r) = 0. (The Bessel function of the second kind
n
(r) is discarded
because it diverges on the axis, j = 0.)
Solutions for the axial function 7
n
(.) are c
I:
or sinh(/.) and cosh(/.). The boundary con-
dition for 7
n
(.) is it vanish at . = 0 and |. Therefore, we can construct the axial function as
follows,
7
n
(., .
0
) =
_

_
sinh(/
na
.) sinh[/
na
(| .
0
)[, 0 < . < .
0
< |,
sinh[/
na
(| .)[ sinh(/
na
.
0
), 0 < .
0
< . < |,
(2.60)
where /
na
= r
na
,a. A more fancy way to write 7
n
(., .
0
) is
7
n
(., .
0
) = sinh[/
na
min(., .
0
)[ sinh/
na
[| max(., .
0
)[. (2.61)
15
The Greens function may thus be assumed in the form
G(r, r
0
) =

n,a

na
1
na
(j, j
0
)7
na
(., .
0
) cos[:(c c
0
)[. (2.62)
The expansion coecient
na
can be determined from the discontinuity in the derivative of the
axial function 7
na
(., .
0
) at .
0
,
d
d.
7
na

:=:
0
+0
= /
na
cosh[/
na
(| .
0
)[ sinh(/
na
.
0
),
d
d.
7
na

:=:
0
0
= /
na
cosh(/
na
.
0
) sinh[(/
na
(| .
0
)[.
Then, a singularity appears in the second order derivative,
d
2
d.
2
7
na
= /
na
sinh(/
na
|)c(. .
0
), (2.63)
which is compatible with the delta function in the RHS of the original singular Poissons equation
in Eq. (2.54). Eq. (2.54) now reduces to

na

na
/
na
sinh(/
na
|)J
n
(/
na
j)J
n
(/
na
j
0
) cos :(c c
0
) =
c(j j
0
)
j
c(c c
0
). (2.64)
Multiplying both sides by j
0
J
n
(/
na
j
0
) cos :c
0
and integrating over j
0
and c
0
, we nd

0a
=
1
a
2
/
na
1
J
2
n+1
(/
na
a) sinh(/
na
|)
, : = 0, (2.65)

na
=
2
a
2
/
na
1
J
2
n+1
(/
na
a) sinh(/
na
|)
, : _ 1, (2.66)
where use has been made of the following integral,
_
o
0
jJ
2
n
(/
na
j)dj =
a
2
2
J
2
n+1
(/
na
a). (2.67)
The nal form of the desired Greens function is
G(r, r
0
) =
1
a
1

n=0
1

a=1
J
n
_
r
na
j
a
_
J
n
_
r
na
j
0
a
_
7
na
(., .
0
)
r
na
J
2
n+1
(r
na
) sinh(/
na
|)
cos[:(c c
0
)[-
n
, (2.68)
16
where
-
n
=
_
1, : = 0
2, : _ 1
If one does not like the appearance of -
n
, the summation over : can be changed to from to
,
G(r, r
0
) =
1
a
1

n=1
1

a=1
J
n
_
r
na
j
a
_
J
n
_
r
na
j
0
a
_
7
na
(., .
0
)
r
na
J
2
n+1
(r
na
) sinh(/
na
|)
cos[:(c c
0
)[. (2.69)
If it is assumed that /
2
= i
2
< 0, appropriate general solutions to
_
d
2
dj
2

1
j
d
dj

:
2
j
2
i
2
_
1
n
(j) = 0, (2.70)
_
d
2
d.
2
i
2
_
7
n
(.) = 0, (2.71)
are
1
n
_
j, j
0
_
=
_
1
n
(i
n
a) 1
n
_
i
n
j
0
_
1
n
(i
n
a) 1
n
_
i
n
j
0
_
1
n
(/
n
j) , j < j
0
< a, (2.72)
1
n
_
j, j
0
_
= [1
n
(i
n
a) 1
n
(i
n
j) 1
n
(i
n
a) 1
n
(i
n
j)[ 1
n
_
/
n
j
0
_
, j
0
< j < a, (2.73)
with i
n
= :,| and
7
n
(.) = sin(i
n
.) sin
_
i
n
.
0
_
, (2.74)
from which the Greens function can be constructed. Remaining calculation is left for exercise. The
reader should appreciate how a delta function c (j j
0
) appears from the term
d
2
1
n
dj
2
. (2.75)
One may wonder about Greens function for the exterior region of a cylinder of nite length.
This problem appears to be a dicult one and analytical expressions are not available to the
authors knowledge. It may be the case the problem can only be solved numerically.
2.3.4 Long Cylinder (3-Dimensional)
Three dimensional Greens function for a long cylinder satises
\
2
G =
_
0
2
0j
2

1
j
0
0j

1
j
2
0
2
0c
2

0
2
0.
2
_
G =
c(j j
0
)
j
c(c

c
0
)c(. .
0
), (2.76)
17
which is to be solved for the boundary conditions
G(j = a) = 0, G(. = ) = 0. (2.77)
Following the same procedure as in the preceding example, the interior solution for interior j, j
0
< a
may be assumed as
G(r, r
0
) =

n,a

na
J
n
(/
na
j)J
n
(/
na
j
0
) cos[:(c c
0
)[ oxp[/
na
[. .
0
[[, (2.78)
where
/
na
=
r
na
a
, (2.79)
and r
na
is the :-th root of J
n
(r) = 0. Since
d
2
d.
2
c
Imnj::
0
j
= /
2
na
c
Imnj::
0
j
2/
na
c(. .
0
), (2.80)
1

n=1
cos[:(c c
0
)[ = 2c(c c
0
), (2.81)
we readily nd the interior Greens function (j, j
0
< a)
G(r, r
0
) =
1

n=1
1

a=1
J
n
(/
na
j)J
n
(/
na
j
0
)
/
na
J
2
n+1
(/
na
a)
cos[:(c c
0
)[c
Imnj::
0
j
. (2.82)
For exterior of a long cylinder, solutions to the equation
_
0
2
0j
2

1
j
0
0j

1
j
2
0
2
0c
2

0
2
0.
2
_
G =
c(j j
0
)
j
c(c

c
0
)c(. .
0
),
can be found in terms of Fourier transform with respect to the .-coordinate. Let G(r, r
0
) be
G(r, r
0
) =

n
c
in(
0
)
_
1
n
(j, j
0
; /)c
iI(::
0
)
d/. (2.83)
The radial function 1
n
(j, j
0
; /) satises
_
d
2
dj
2

1
j
d
dj

:
2
j
2
/
2
_
1
n
(j, j
0
; /) =
c(j j
0
)
2j
. (2.84)
Elementary solutions are the modied Bessel functions 1
n
(/j) and 1
n
(/j) and we can construct
18
following solutions which remain bounded in the region a < j < ,
1
n
(j, j
0
; /) =
_

_
(/)1
n
(/j) 1(/)1
n
(/j), a < j < j
0
< ,
C(/)1
n
(/j), a < j
0
< j < ,
(2.85)
The boundary conditions are 1
n
(j = a) = 0 and 1
n
(j) be continuous at j = j
0
,
(/)1
n
(/a) 1(/)1
n
(/a) = 0, (2.86)
(/)1
n
(/j
0
) 1(/)1
n
(/j
0
) = C(/)1
n
(/j
0
). (2.87)
Then,
1
n
(j, j
0
; /) =
_

_
(/)
_
1
n
(/j)
1
n
(/a)
1
n
(/a)
1
n
(/j)
_
, a < j < j
0
< ,
(/)
1
1
n
(/j
0
)
_
1
n
(/j
0
)
1
n
(/a)
1
n
(/a)
1
n
(/j
0
)
_
1
n
(/j), a < j
0
< j < .
(2.88)
The unknown function (/) can be found from the discontinuity in the derivative at j = j
0
,
d
2
dj
2
1
n
(j, j
0
; /)

j=j
0
= /(/)
1
0
n
(/j
0
)1
n
(/j
0
) 1
n
(/j
0
)1
0
n
(/j
0
)
1
n
(/j
0
)
c(j j
0
) (2.89)
=
(/)
1
n
(/j
0
)
c(j j
0
)
j
0
, (2.90)
where again use has been made of the Wronskian of the modied Bessel functions,
1
0
n
(r)1
n
(r) 1
n
(r)1
0
n
(r) =
1
r
. (2.91)
We thus nd
(/) =
1
n
(/j
0
)
2
, (2.92)
and 1
n
(j, j
0
; /) reduces to
1
n
(j, j
0
; /) =
_

_
1
2
1
n
(/j
0
)
_
1
n
(/j)
1
n
(/a)
1
n
(/a)
1
n
(/j)
_
, a < j < j
0
< ,
1
2
_
1
n
(/j
0
)
1
n
(/a)
1
n
(/a)
1
n
(/j
0
)
_
1
n
(/j), a < j
0
< j < .
(2.93)
19
The exterior Greens function of a long cylinder is given by
G(r, r
0
) =
1
2

n
c
in(
0
)
_
1
n
(j, j
0
; /)c
iI(::
0
)
d/. (2.94)
2.3.5 Long Cylinder (2-Dimensional)
Cross-section of a long cylinder. ` are the line charge and its image, respectively, that together
make the cylinder surface an equipotential surface,
1(j = a) = `,(2-
0
) ln(a,j
0
).
For boundary value problems in which .-dependence is suppressed, it is convenient to formulate
a two dimensional Greens function. Two dimensional Greens function for a long cylinder is to be
found from
\
2
G(r, r
0
) = c
2
(r r
0
), (2.95)
where c
2
(r r
0
) is the two-dimensional delta function. In the cylindrical geometry, it is given by
c
2
(r r
0
) =
c(j j
0
)
j
c(c c
0
), (2.96)
and the Greens function satises
_
0
2
0j
2

1
j
0
0j

1
j
2
0
2
0c
2
_
G =
c(j j
0
)
j
c(c c
0
). (2.97)
In this case, the method of image can be exploited very conveniently. Let us consider a long line
charge ` (C/m) placed at (j
0
, c
0
) parallel to a long, grounded conducting cylinder of radius a. A
negative line charge ` placed at (j
00
, c
0
) where
j
00
=
a
2
j
0
, (2.98)
20
makes the cylinder surface an equipotential surface at a potential
1
c
=
`
2-
0
ln
_
a
j
0
_
. (2.99)
Since we are seeking a potential that vanishes on the cylinder surface j = a, the constant potential
1
c
can be subtracted from the potential due to two line charges ` and `,
1(r, r
0
) =
`
2-
0
_
ln

r r
0

ln

r r
00

ln
_
a
j
0
__
, (2.100)
where

r r
0

=
_
j
2
j
02
2jj
0
cos(c c
0
), (2.101)

r r
00

=
_
j
2
j
002
2jj
00
cos(c c
0
)
=
_
j
2

_
a
2
j
0
_
2
2
a
2
j
j
0
cos(c c
0
). (2.102)
The desired Greens function is
G(r, r
0
) =
1
2
ln
_
_
j
2
j
02
2jj
0
cos(c c
0
)
_
(jj
0
,a)
2
a
2
2jj
0
cos(c c
0
)
_
. (2.103)
For exterior Dirichlet problems, the normal derivative at the cylinder surface is
0G
0:
=
0G
0j
0

j
0
=o+0
=
1
2
a
j
2
a
j
2
a
2
2aj cos(c c
0
)
, j a, (2.104)
and for interior,
0G
0:
=
0G
0j
0

j
0
=o0
=
1
2
j
2
a
a
j
2
a
2
2aj cos(c c
0
)
, j < a. (2.105)
If the potential on a long cylindrical surface is specied as a function of the angle c, 1
c
(c), the
potential o the surface can be calculated from
1(j, c) = a
_
1
c
(c
0
)
0G
0:
dc
0
. (2.106)
21
For the interior (j < a) , the potential is given by
1(j, c) =
1
2
_
2
0
1
c
_
c
0
_
a
2
j
2
a
2
j
2
2aj cos(c c
0
)
dc
0
=
1
2
_
2
0
1
c
_
c
0
_
_
1 2
1

n=1
_
j
a
_
n
cos[:
_
c c
0
_
[
_
dc
0
, (2.107)
where use is made of the following expansion,
a
2
j
2
a
2
j
2
2aj cos(c c
0
)
= 1 2
1

n=1
_
j
a
_
n
cos[:
_
c c
0
_
[.
Example 4
Figure 2-7: 1 = \ for 0 < c < , 1 = \ for < c < 0 on the surface of a long cylinder.
(Example of 2-D Greens function.)
As an example, let us consider a long conducting cylinder consisting of two equal troughs. The
upper half in the region 0 < c < is at a potential \ and the lower half < c < 0 is at a
potential \ as shown Fig.2-7. The exterior potential j a is given by
1(j, c) = \
j
2
a
2
2
__

0
1
j
2
a
2
2aj cos(c c
0
)
dc
0

_
0

1
j
2
a
2
2aj cos(c c
0
)
dc
0
_
.
(2.108)
22
The rst integral can be eected by changing the variable from c
0
to 0 through c
0
,2 = 0,
_
2
2
1
j
2
a
2
2aj sin(0 c)
d0
=
2
j
2
a
2
_

_
lan
1
_
_
_
_
(j
2
a
2
) lan
_
0 c
2
_
2aj
j
2
a
2
_
_
_
_
_

_
2
2
=
2
j
2
a
2
_
lan
1
_
(j
2
a
2
)(col c lanc) 2aj
j
2
a
2
_
lan
1
_
(j
2
a
2
)(col c lanc) 2aj
j
2
a
2
__
=
2
j
2
a
2
_
lan
1
_
2aj sinc
j
2
a
2
_

2
_
, (2.109)
where use has been made of the identities,
lan
_

4

r
2
_
= col r lanr,
lan
1
r lan
1
j = lan
1
_
r j
1 rj
_
,
lan
1
r =

2
lan
1
_
1
r
_
.
Similarly, the second integral yields
2
j
2
a
2
_
lan
1
_
2aj sinc
j
2
a
2
_

2
_
, (2.110)
and the potential becomes
1(j, c) =
2\

lan
1
_
2aj sinc
j
2
a
2
_
, j a. (2.111)
The interior potential is
1(j, c) =
2\

lan
1
_
2aj sinc
a
2
j
2
_
, j < a. (2.112)
2.3.6 Wedge
A wedge is formed by two large plates intersecting at an angle as illustrated in Fig.2-8.
The potential due to a point charge at (j
0
, c
0
, .
0
) with the boundary conditions 1 = 0 at the
plates c = 0 and c = , and j = , [.[ = essentially gives the Greens function. We thus seek
23
Figure 2-8: A wedge formed by two large conducting plates intersecting at an angle .
a solution to the Poissons equation
_
0
2
0j
2

1
j
0
0j

1
j
2
0
2
0c
2

0
2
0.
2
_
G =
c(j j
0
)
j
c(c c
0
)c(. .
0
), (2.113)
subject to the those boundary conditions. As in the case of 3-dimensional Greens function for a
long cylinder, we Fourier transform the Greens function,
G(r, c, .) =
1
2
_
1
1
q(j, c, /)c
iI(::
0
)
d/. (2.114)
The angular dependence of the Greens function can be assumed to be
sin
_
:

c
_
sin
_
:

c
0
_
, (2.115)
which indeed vanishes at c = 0 and c = . We thus assume
q(j, c, /) =

n
1
n
(j) sin
_
:

c
_
sin
_
:

c
0
_
, (2.116)
to obtain

n
_
d
2
dj
2

1
j
d
dj

1
j
2
_
:

_
2
/
2
_
1
n
(j) sin
_
:

c
__
sin
:

c
0
_
=
c(j j
0
)
j
c(c c
0
).
(2.117)
24
The radial function can be composed of the modied Bessel functions,
1
n
(j) =
_

_
1
n
(/j)1
n
(/j
0
), j < j
0
,
1
n
(/j
0
)1
n
(/j), j
0
< j.
(2.118)
The derivative of the radial function 1
n
(j) has discontinuity at j = j
0
, and the second order
derivative yields
d
2
1
n
(j)
dj
2
=
1
j
0
c(j j
0
), (2.119)
where the Wronskian of the modied Bessel functions,
1
i
(r)1
0
i
(r) 1
0
i
(r)1
i
(r) =
1
r
,
has been substituted. The expansion coecient
n
is thus determined as

n
=
1

, (2.120)
and the desired Greens function is
G(r, r
0
) =
2

n
_
1
0
1
n
(j, j
0
) cos[/(. .
0
)[d/ sin(ic) sin(ic
0
), (2.121)
where
i =
:

. (2.122)
We will encounter an application of wedge potential in the section of inversion method later in this
Chapter.
Example 5 Line Charge parallel to a Long Dielectric Cylinder
Consider a long line charge with charge density ` (C m
1
) placed parallel to a long dielectric
cylinder of radius a. The distance between the line charge and the cylinder axis is /. The potential
outside the cylinder can be sought by assuming an image line charge `
0
at the position a
2
,/ and
another image `
0
at the center,
1
jo
(j, c) =
`
4-
0
ln
_
j
2
/
2
2j/ cos c
_

`
0
4-
0
ln
_
j
2

_
a
2
/
_
2
2j
a
2
/
cos c
_

`
0
4-
0
lnj
2
,
where c is measured relative to the location of line charge `. The interior potential is free from
25
singularity and may be assumed to be due to an image `
00
at the location of the line charge `,
1
j<o
(j, c) =
`
00
4-
0
ln
_
j
2
/
2
2j/ cos c
_

`
0
4-
0
ln/
2
.
Note that the constant potential (the last term)
`
0
4-
0
ln/
2
,
is needed to match same outer potential at r = a,
1
jo
(r = a) =
` `
0
4-
0
ln
_
a
2
/
2
2a/ cos c
_

`
0
4-
0
ln/
2
.
The pertinent boundary conditions are 1

and 1
v
be continuous at r = a which yield
` `
0
= `
00
,
and
-
0
_
` `
0
_
= -`
00
.
Then
`
0
=
-
0
-
-
0
-
`, and `
00
=
2-
0
-
0
-
`.
The attracting force to act on the unit length of the line charge is given by
1
|
=
`
2-
0
_
`
0
/ (a
2
,/)

`
00
/
_
=
`
2
2-
0
a
2
/ (/
2
a
2
)
-
0
-
-
0
-
, (N m
1
).
A magnetically dual problem is the case of long current 1 parallel to a magnetic cylinder with
a permeability j. The image currents are
1
0
=
j j
0
j j
0
1 at j =
a
2
/
,
and
1
00
=
2j
j j
0
1 at the axis.
2.4 Other Useful Rectilinear Coordinates
The familiar three coordinate systems, cartesian, spherical, and cylindrical, are frequently used in
analyzing potential problems. However, there are some 30 known coordinate systems developed for
specic problems. For simple electrode shapes, potential problems can be rendered one dimensional
26
by a suitable choice of coordinates. However, in some coordinates, solutions to Laplace equations
are not always completely separable. We have encountered one such example in Chapter 1, the
toroidal coordinates, in analyzing the potential due to a ring charge. In this section, some coordinate
systems useful for potential problems will be introduced.
2.4.1 Oblate Spheroidal Coordinates (; ; )
Figure 2-9: Oblate spheroidal coordinates (j, 0, c). j 0 degenerates to a thin disk of radius a.
0 = cons. describes the surface of a hyperboloid.
The oblate spherical coordinates (j, 0, c) are related to the cartesian coordinates through the
following transformation,
_

_
r = a coshj sin0 cos c
j = a coshj sin0 sinc
. = a sinhj cos 0
(2.123)
A surface of constant j is the surface of an oblate spheroid described by
r
2
j
2
(a coshj)
2

.
2
(a sinhj)
2
= 1, (2.124)
as shown in Fig.2-9. In the limit of j 0, the surface degenerates to a thin disk of radius a
with negligible thickness, and in the opposite limit j 1, the surface approaches a sphere with
27
a radius r = a coshj a sinhj. This coordinate system is convenient if electrode shapes are an
oblate sphere or disk. A surface of constant 0 is a hyperboloid described by
r
2
j
2
(a sin0)
2

.
2
(a sin0)
2
= 1. (2.125)
The metric coecients are
/
j
=
_
_
0r
0j
_
2

_
0j
0j
_
2

_
0.
0j
_
2
= a
_
cosh
2
j sin
2
0, (2.126)
/
0
=
_
_
0r
00
_
2

_
0j
00
_
2

_
0.
00
_
2
= /
j
, (2.127)
/

=
_
_
0r
0c
_
2

_
0j
0c
_
2

_
0.
0c
_
2
= a coshj sin0. (2.128)
The Laplace equation in the oblate spherical coordinates can thus be written down as
1
/
j
/
0
/

_
0
0j
_
/
0
/

/
j
01
0j
_

0
00
_
/
j
/

/
0
01
00
_

0
0c
_
/
j
/
0
/

01
0c
__
= 0, (2.129)
which reduces to
1
cosh
2
j sin
2
0
_
0
2
0j
2
lanhj
0
0j

0
2
00
2
col 0
0
00
_
1
1
cosh
2
j sin
2
0
0
2
1
0c
2
= 0. (2.130)
Assuming a separated solution 1(j, 0, c) = 1
1
(j)1
2
(0)c
in
, (: = integer), we obtain
_
d
2
dj
2
lanhj
d
dj
|(| 1)
:
2
cosh
2
j
_
1
1
(j) = 0, (2.131)
_
d
2
d0
2
col 0
d
d0
|(| 1)
:
2
sin
2
0
_
1
2
(0) = 0, (2.132)
where |(| 1) is a separation constant. Eq. (2.132) is the standard form of the Legendre equation
and solutions for 1
2
(0) are
1
2
(0) = 1
n
|
(cos 0), Q
n
|
(cos 0). (2.133)
Eq. (2.131) can be rewritten as
_
d
2
dj
2

sinhj
coshj
d
dj
|(| 1)
:
2
1 sinh
2
j
_
1
1
(j) = 0, (2.134)
28
which is also the Legendre equation with a variable i sinhj. Therefore, solutions for 1
1
(j) are
1
1
(j) = 1
n
|
(i sinhj), Q
n
|
(i sinhj), (2.135)
and general solution to Laplace equation can be constructed from these elementary solutions.
If a point charge is placed at
_
j
0
, 0
0
, c
0
_
, the potential in terms of the oblate spheroidal
coordinates can be found as
1(r) =
1
4-
0

[r r
0
[
=

-
0
a
1

|=0
|

n=|
(| [:[)!
(| [:[)!
_
1
n
|
(i sinhj) Q
n
|
(i sinhj
0
)
1
n
|
(i sinhj
0
) Q
n
|
(i sinhj)
_
1
|n
(0, c) 1

|n
_
0
0
, c
0
_
,
_
j < j
0
j j
0
_
. (2.136)
Derivation of this expression is left for exercise. The Wronskian of the Legendre functions,
1
n
|
(r)
d
dr
Q
n
|
(r) Q
n
|
(r)
d
dr
1
n
|
(r) =
1
r
2
1
(| [:[)!
(| [:[)!
, (2.137)
should be useful. Furthermore, the Greens function for an oblate spheroidal surface described by
j = j
0
can readily be worked out to be:
for j
0
< j < j
0
,
G
_
r, r
0
_
=
1
a
1

|=0
|

n=|
(| [:[)!
(| [:[)!
1
n
|
(i sinhj) Q
n
|
_
i sinhj
0
_
1
|n
(0, c) 1

|n
_
0
0
, c
0
_

1
a
1

|=0
|

n=|
(| [:[)!
(| [:[)!
1
n
|
(i sinhj
0
)
Q
n
|
(i sinhj
0
)
Q
n
|
(i sinhj) Q
n
|
_
i sinhj
0
_
1
|n
(0, c) 1

|n
_
0
0
, c
0
_
, (2.138)
and for j
0
< j
0
< j,
G
_
r, r
0
_
=
1
a
1

|=0
|

n=|
(| [:[)!
(| [:[)!
1
n
|
_
i sinhj
0
_
Q
n
|
(i sinhj) 1
|n
(0, c) 1

|n
_
0
0
, c
0
_

1
a
1

|=0
|

n=|
(| [:[)!
(| [:[)!
1
n
|
(i sinhj
0
)
Q
n
|
(i sinhj
0
)
Q
n
|
(i sinhj) Q
n
|
_
i sinhj
0
_
1
|n
(0, c) 1

|n
_
0
0
, c
0
_
. (2.139)
Example 6 Charged Conducting Disk
A thin disk of radius a is described by j = 0 in the oblate spherical coordinates. If a constant
j surface is an equipotential surface, the potential o the surface is a function of j only, that is,
the potential problem becomes one dimensional. This is the most advantageous merit of using a
coordinate system most suitable for particular potential problems. The relevant solution which
29
Figure 2-10: A charged conducting disk of radius a. A disk is described by j = 0, 0 _ 0 _ .
vanishes at j = is the lowest order Legendre function of the second kind,
1(j) = Q
0
(i sinhj) 1, (2.140)
where and 1 are constants. Since
Q
0
(i sinhj) = i
_
lan
1
(sinhj)

2
_
= i col
1
(sinhj), (2.141)
and the boundary condition is
1(j = 0) = \ (disk potential),
we readily nd the potential at an arbitrary j,
1(j) =
2\

col
1
(sinhj). (2.142)
Note that col
1
(0) = ,2. The far eld potential at j 1 or r a can be found from the
asymptotic form of the function col
1
r,
col
1
r
1
r

1
8r
3
, r 1. (2.143)
The leading far eld potential is monopole as expected,
1(j 1)
2\

1
sinhj

2\

a
r
. (2.144)
30
Comparing with the standard monopole potential
1(r) =
1
4-
0

r
, (2.145)
we readily nd the total charge carried by the disk,
= 8-
0
a\,
and the self-capacitance of the disk,
C = 8-
0
a, (F). (2.146)
This expression was rst found by Cavendish.
The surface charge distribution on the disk is quite nonuniform because like charges repel each
other. Charge is distributed in such a manner that the tangential electric eld on the disk surface
vanishes. The surface charge density can be found from the normal component of the electric eld,
o = -
0
1
a
= -
0
1
j
, (2.147)
where
1
j
=
1
/
j
01
0j

j=0
=
2\
a
1
[ cos 0[
. (2.148)
Note that
d
dr
col
1
r =
1
1 r
2
. (2.149)
The surface charge density diverges at the edge of the disk where 0 = ,2. The charge residing on
the disk surface can be found from the following surface integral,
= -
0
_

0
d0
_
2
0
dco/
0
/

j=0
=
2-
0
a\

_

0
sin0d0
_
2
0
dc
= 8-
0
a\.
This is consistent with the charge found earlier using the monopole potential.
If one uses a coordinate system other than the oblate spheroidal system, solutions will be much
more involved. Let us employ the cylindrical coordinates (j, c, .). Because of axial symmetry, c
31
dependence can be suppressed and we seek a solution in the form of Laplace transform,
1(j, .) =
_
1
0
(j, /)c
Ij:j
d/. (2.150)
The Laplace equation without c dependence
_
0
2
0j
2

1
j
0
0j

0
2
0.
2
_
1(j, .) = 0, (2.151)
becomes
_
d
2
dj
2

1
j
d
dj
/
2
_
(j, /) = 0, (2.152)
which suggests that
(j, /) = (/)J
0
(/j). (2.153)
The boundary conditions are:
1(j _ a, . = 0) = \ (constant).
The following integral has a peculiar property,
_
1
0
sinar
r
J
0
(/r)dr =
_

2
, if a /,
sin
1
(a,/), if a < /.
(2.154)
Exploiting this property, we can construct the following solution for the potential,
1(j, .) =
2\

_
1
0
sin/a
/
J
0
(/j)c
Ij:j
d/. (2.155)
The potential in the disk plane (. = 0) is
1(j, . = 0) =
_

_
\, if j < a,
2\

sin
1
(a,j), if j a.
(2.156)
Example 7 Dipole Moment of a Conducting Disk in an External Electric Field
If a thin conductor disk is placed perpendicular to an external eld, the dipole moment is zero
because of negligible thickness of the disk even though charge separation does take place in such
a manner that disk surfaces are oppositely charged. The external electric eld is little disturbed
by the disk in this case. The maximum disturbance occurs when the disk surface is parallel to the
32
Figure 2-11: Conducting disk in an external electric eld parallel to the disk surface.
eld.
We assume a uniform external electric eld in the rdirection and a thin conducting disk placed
in the r j plane with its axis in the .direction as shown in Fig.2-11. The potential associated
with the external uniform electric eld is
1
0
= 1
0
r
= 1
0
a coshj sin0 cos c. (2.157)
The radial function coshj is actually 1
1
1
(i sinhj) and the presence of the disk should yield
a perturbation proportional to the Legendre function of the second kind Q
1
1
(i sinhj) since the
perturbed potential should have the same angular dependence as 1
0
(j, 0, c) to satisfy the boundary
condition at the disk. Thus we assume
1(j, 0, c) = 1
0
a coshj sin0 cos c Q
1
1
(i sinhj) sin0 cos c, (2.158)
where Q
1
1
(i sinhj) is actually a real function,
Q
1
1
(i sinhj) = coshj
_
col
1
(sinhj)
sinhj
cosh
2
j
_
. (2.159)
The constant can be determined from the boundary condition that the disk potential be zero,
that is, 1(j = 0) = 0. We thus nd
=
2

a1
0
,
33
and the potential becomes
1(j, 0, c) = a1
0
_
coshj
2

Q
1
1
(i sinhj)
_
sin0 cos c. (2.160)
Far away from the disk at r a or j 1, the potential approaches
lim
j1
1(j, 0, c) a1
0
coshj sin0 cos c
41
0
a
3
8
sin0 cos c
r
2
, (2.161)
where the asymptotic form of Q
1
1
(i sinhj),
Q
1
1
(i sinhj)
2
8
1
sinh
2
j
=
2
8
_
a
r
_
2
, (2.162)
has been substituted. Comparing the dipole term in Eq. (2.161) with the standard dipole potential
1
dipole
=
1
4-
0
p r
r
3
, (2.163)
we can readily identify the dipole moment induced by the disk,
p = 4-
0
4a
3
8
E
0k
, (2.164)
where E
0k
is the component of the external electric eld tangential to the disk surface. Note that the
dipole moment is proportional to a
3
. The moment is equally applicable for low frequency oscillating
electric eld as long as the wavelength associated with the oscillating led is much longer than the
disk radius, /a =
2
A
a 1. A resultant scattering cross-section of a conducting disk (sphere too)
placed in a low frequency electromagnetic wave is proportional to a
6
.
Example 8 Leakage of Electric Field through a Small Hole in a Conducting Plate
Consider a parallel plate capacitor whose grounded, lower plate has a small circular hole of
radius a as shown in Fig.2-12. We wish to nd how the hole perturbs the potential. This problem
has important applications in analyzing leakage of microwaves through a small hole in waveguide
walls.
The unperturbed electric eld 1
0
between the plates is assumed downward with a corresponding
potential
1
0
(.) =
_

_
1
0
., . 0
0, . < 0
(2.165)
34
Figure 2-12: The lower plate of a parallel plate capacitor has a small hole of radius a. The electric
eld leaks throught the hole.
where . = a sinhj cos 0. We note
sinhj = i1
1
(i sinhj). (2.166)
Therefore, the perturbed potential can be sought in term of the Legendre function of the second
kind Q
1
(i sinhj) which is equivalent to
Q
1
(i sinhj) = sinhj col
1
(sinhj) 1. (2.167)
We thus assume the following form for the potential in both regions,
1(j, 0) =
_

_
a1
0
sinhj cos 0
_
sinhj col
1
(sinhj) 1

cos 0, 0 < 0 <

2

_
sinhj col
1
(sinhj) 1

cos 0,

2
< 0 < ,
which ensures continuity of the potential at the hole (j = 0). Continuity of the normal component
of the electric eld at the hole requires
01
0j

j=0
:=+0
=
01
0j

j=0
:=0
,
from which we readily nd the constant ,
=
a1
0

.
35
In the region below the lower plate (. < 0), the potential is
1(j, 0) =
a1
0

_
sinhj col
1
(sinhj) 1

cos 0,

2
< 0 < . (2.168)
Its asymptotic form is of dipole nature,
1(r a)
1
0
a
3
8
1
r
2
cos 0 0, (2.169)
(note that cos 0 < 0 in the region below the plate) and the eective dipole moment of the hole is
p =
4-
0
a
3
8
E
0
, (2.170)
which is downward. The far-eld potential in the upper region (. 0) is
1 1
0

1
0
a
3
8
1
r
2
cos 0, (2.171)
in which the dipole term is due to an eective dipole moment upward. The potential at the center
of the hole is
1(j = 0, 0 = 0 or ) =
a1
0

. (2.172)
The results of this example, together with those of Example 14 in Chapter 3 (leakage of magnetic
eld through a hole in a superconducting plate), will have important implications on diraction of
electromagnetic waves by an aperture in a conducting plate. Since the eective dipoles are opposite
to each other in the two regions . 0 and . < 0, it follows in general that
1
:
(.) = 1
:
(.),
that is, the electric eld normal to the plate is an odd function of .. This means that the surface
charges o = -
0
n E (C/m
2
) induced on both sides of the plate at . = 0 and . = 0 are identical,
where n is the unit normal vector at the plate surface. (Note that n changes its sign from one side
to other.) The component tangential to the plate,
E
t
= n E,
is an even function of .,
E
t
(.) = E
t
(.).
Of course, on the surface of the conducting plate, E
t
vanishes but it does not in the hole. For
36
magnetic elds resulting from a hole in an ideally conducting plate, we will see that the normal
component should vanish at the plate surface
H
:
= 0, at . = 0,
and o the plate, it is even with respect to .,
H
:
(.) = H
:
(.),
while the tangential component H
t
= n H is an odd function of .,
H
t
(.) = H
t
(.).
It follows that the surface currents
J
c
= n H, (A/m)
on both surfaces of the plate are identical.
2.5 Method of Inversion
The method of inversion is useful when an electrode has a spherical shape, either complete spheres
(e.g., two spheres touching) or incomplete sphere (e.g., spherical bowl, solid hemisphere, etc.). For
a given sphere of radius a which we call inverting sphere, the inverted position of a point at r is
dened by
r
i
=
a
2
r
2
r. (2.173)
(See Fig.2-13.) A sphere is inverted into another sphere. If the center of the inverting sphere is
chosen on the surface of a sphere to be inverted, the inverted surface becomes a plane as shown
in Fig.2-14. This is where the merit of method of inversion is found because potential problems of
planar electrodes are often simpler than those involving spheres.
Consider a charge placed at r
0
= (r
0
, 0
0
, c
0
). The potential at position r = (r, 0, c) is
1 =

4-
0
1
_
r
2
r
02
2rr
0
cos
, (2.174)
where
cos = cos 0 cos 0
0
sin0 sin0
0
cos(c c
0
).
37
Figure 2-13: Point 1 at (r, 0, c) is inverted with respect to the sphere of radius a to Q at (a
2
,r, 0, c),
i.e., at the image position.
Figure 2-14: If an inverting sphere is centered on a surface of a sphere to be inverted, the sphere is
inverted to an innite plane.
In the inverted space with respect to a sphere of radius a, a charge
0
will appear at
_
a
r
0
_
2
r
0
, (2.175)
and the position r is inverted to
_
a
r
_
2
r. (2.176)
The potential at the inverted position is
1
i
=

0
4-
0
1
_
a
4
r
2

a
4
r
02
2
a
4
rr
0
cos
=

0
4-
0
rr
0
a
2
1
_
r
2
r
02
2rr
0
cos
. (2.177)
38
In general, if a function 1(r, 0, c) satises the Laplace equation, the potential function
a
r
1
_
a
2
r
, 0, c
_
, (2.178)
also satises the Laplace equation.
It should be noted that an equipotential spherical surface is in general not inverted to an
equipotential sphere. However, a spherical surface at zero potential is inverted to a zero potential
spherical surface. Since the reference potential can be chosen arbitrarily without aecting the
electric eld, one can always choose the potential of an equipotential spherical surface at zero
potential. For example, the potential of a charged conducting sphere of radius a is
1
c
=
1
4-
0

a
, (2.179)
relative to zero potential at innity. However, we can subtract 1
c
from the potential everywhere
and choose the sphere potential at zero and the potential at innity as
1
1
=
1
4-
0

a
.
The electric eld remains unchanged through uniform shift of the potential. If an inverting sphere
is chosen in such a way that it has a radius 2a centered at the surface of the conducting sphere of
radius a, the conducting sphere is inverted to an innite plane touching the both spheres as shown
in Fig. 2-15. Since the sphere potential is chosen at zero, the potential of the plane is also zero.
The potential at innity is inverted to

1
4-
0

a

2a
r
=
1
4-
0
2
r
, (2.180)
where r is the radial distance from the center of the inverting sphere with radius 2a. This is a
potential due to a point charge 2. Therefore, a charge
2 = 8-
0
1
c
a, (2.181)
appears at the center of the inverting sphere.
Example 9 Capacitance of Touching Spheres
Using the method of inversion, we can nd the capacitance of two conducting sphere touching
each other as shown in Fig.2-15. The potential of the touching spheres is denoted by 1
c
. If the
inverting sphere has radius 2a and its center at the touching point, the two spheres become two
39
Figure 2-15: Touching spheres are inverted to parallel plates by a sphere of radius 2a centered at
the touching point. Images appear in the inverted space.
parallel planes separated by a distance 4a. A charge
= 8-
0
a1
c
, (2.182)
appears at the midpoint between the plates after inversion which can be analyzed easily using the
method of multiple images. The following image charges appear: at [.[ = 4a, at [.[ = 8a,
at [.[ = 12a, . The amount of total charge on the surface of the original spheres can be found by
re-inverting the image charges,
Q = 2
_
2a
4a

2a
8a

2a
12a

_
= ln2
= 8-
0
a1
c
ln2. (2.183)
Therefore, the self-capacitance of the touching spheres is
C =
Q
1
c
= 8-
0
a ln2. (2.184)
The potential 1
i
(j, .) in the inverted space shown in Fig.2-16can be found in the form of Fourier
transform,
1
i
(j, .) =
_
1
0
(/) sinh[/(2a [.[)[J
0
(/j)d/, (2.185)
where (/) is a weighting function to be determined. It is noted that the elementary solution to
the Laplace equation is
J
0
(/j)c
I:
, (2.186)
40
Figure 2-16: Geometry in the inverted space.
and the assumed form of the potential certainly satises the Laplace equation as well. The weighting
function (/) can be determined by noting
d
2
d.
2
sinh[/(2a [.[)[ = 2/ cosh(2a/)c(.), (2.187)
and
_
1
0
/J
0
(/j)d/ =
1
j
c(j). (2.188)
The charge density of the point charge at the origin is
j
c
=

2j
c(j)c(.). (2.189)
Then, (/) can be determined from the Poissons equation
\
2
1
i
=
j
c
-
0
, (2.190)
as
(/) =

4-
0
1
cosh(2a/)
, (2.191)
and the potential in the inverted space is
1
i
(j, .) =

4-
0
_
1
0
sinh[/(2a [.[)[
cosh(2a/)
J
0
(/j)d/. (2.192)
The potential in the original conguration can be found by reinverting 1
i
through the transforma-
tion
.
_
2a
r
_
2
., j
_
2a
r
_
2
j,
where
r
2
= j
2
.
2
,
41
is the distance from the center. The result is
1(j, .) =

4-
0
2a
r
_
1
0
sinh
_
/
_
2a
_
2a
r
_
2
[.[
__
cosh(2a/)
J
0
_
/
_
2a
r
_
2
j
_
d/, (2.193)
with r
2
= j
2
.
2
. Recalling that we have subtracted 1
c
= ,4-
0
a (the sphere potential) from the
potential everywhere to make the sphere potential vanish, we nally obtain
1(j, .) = 1
c
_

_
1
(2a)
2
r
_
1
0
sinh
_
/
_
2a
_
2a
r
_
2
[.[
__
cosh(2a/)
J
0
_
/
_
2a
r
_
2
j
_
d/
_

_
. (2.194)
Figure 2-17: Geometry in the original space.
Example 10 Capacitance of Spherical Bowl
As a second example, we consider a hollow spherical bowl of radius a with an angle 20 subtended
at the center shown in Fig.2-18. As inverting sphere, one can choose a sphere having a radius 2a sin0
centered at the edge of the bowl. After inversion, the bowl becomes a semi-innite plane as shown
and a charge = 8-
0
a sin01
c
will appear at the center of the inverting sphere. Potential
problems involving a semi-innite conducting plate can be analyzed as a limiting case of a wedge.
For a charge placed at (j
0
, c
0
, .
0
) near a wedge intersecting at an angle c, the potential is given
42
Figure 2-18: A bowl (radius a, center angle 20) is inverted to a semi-innite plane by a sphere of
radius 2a sin0 centered at the edge of the bowl.
by
1(j, c, .) =
2
-
0
c
_

n
_
1
0
1
i
(/j)1
i
(/j
0
) cos[/(. .
0
)[d/ sin(ic) sin(ic
0
), j < j
0

n
_
1
0
1
i
(/j
0
)1
i
(/j) cos[/(. .
0
)[d/ sin(ic) sin(ic
0
), j j
0
(2.195)
where i = :,c. Noting
_
1
0
1
i
(/j)1
i
(/j
0
) cos[/(. .
0
)[d/ =
1
2
_
2jj
0
_
1
j
c
i
_
cosh coshj
d, (2.196)
where
coshj =
j
2
j
02
(. .
0
)
2
2jj
0
, (2.197)
and the sum formula
1

n=1
j
n
cos(:r) =
1
2
_
1 j
2
1 2j cos r j
2
1
_
, (2.198)
43
we see that the potential reduces to
1(r) =

4-
0
1
c
_
2jj
0
_
1
j
sinh
_

_
1
cosh(,c) cos[(c c
0
),c[

1
cosh(,c) cos[(c c
0
),c[
_

1
_
cosh coshj
d. (2.199)
For a plate c = 2, and this becomes
1(r) =

4
2
-
0
_
1
1
cos
1
_

cos[(c c
0
),2[
cosh(j,2)
_

1
1
0
cos
1
_

cos[(c c
0
),2[
cosh(j,2)
__
, (2.200)
where
1 =
_
j
2
j
02
2jj
0
cos(c c
0
),
1
0
=
_
j
2
j
02
2jj
0
cos(c c
0
).
The potential in the vicinity of the charge can be found by letting j
0
= j r, c = c
0
= 0, j =
r,2a sin0 1,
1(r) =

4-
0
1
r


4-
0
1
4a sin0
_
1
0
sin0
_
, (2.201)
where r is the distance from the charge. The correction due to the presence of the conducting plate
is therefore
^1 =

4-
0
1
4a sin0
_
1
0
sin0
_
, (2.202)
and in the physical space, the far eld potential due to a charged conducting bowl is in the form
1(r a) =

4-
0
1
2r
_
1
0
sin0
_
=
1

a
r
(sin0 0) 1
c
. (2.203)
Comparing with the standard monopole potential
1 =
Q
4-
0
r
,
we nally nd the capacitance of the bowl,
C = 4-
0
a(0 sin0). (2.204)
44
For a sphere, 0 = , we recover C = 4-
0
a. For a disk of radius 1, 0 sin0 1,a 1, and we
also recover
C = 8-
0
1.
The capacitance of a solid (or closed) hemisphere can be found in a similar manner and given
by
C = 8-
0
a
_
1
1
_
8
_
. (2.205)
This is left for an exercise.
2.6 Numerical Methods
Analytic solutions in potential problems can only be found for a limited number of applications, and
in practice, it is often necessary to resort to numerical analysis. In this section, we will estimate the
capacitance of a square conductor plate of side a. Mathematically speaking, this problem constitutes
an integral equation for the potential 1, which is constant at the conductor,
1 =
1
4-
0
_
o(r
0
)
[r r
0
[
do
0
=
1
4
_
1
[r r
0
[
01
0:
0
do
0
= \ = constant, (2.206)
where
o = -
0
1
a
= -
0
01
0:
,
is the unknown surface charge density. The capacitance can be found from
C =
1
1
_
odo. (2.207)
As a very rough estimate, we recall that the capacitance of a circular disk of radius a is given
by
C = 8-
0
a, (2.208)
and approximate the capacitance of the square plate by
C = 8-
0
r
e
= 8-
0
0.64a, (2.209)
where r
e
is the radius of a circular disk having the same area as the plate,
r
2
e
= a
2
, r
e
= 0.64a.
The nite element numerical method given below yields C 8-
0
0.47a.
45
Figure 2-19: A square conducting plate of side a is divided into 25 sub-areas. Because of symmetry,
the number of unknown potentials is reduced to 6.
The capacitance is the ratio between the total charge Q and the plate potential \ , C = Q,\.
We divide the plate into : : sub-areas of equal size each with side a,:. Each sub-plate is at an
equal potential \ but charges on the sub-plates dier. To illustrate the procedure, we choose : =
(25 sub-areas) as shown in Fig. 2-19. Because of symmetry, there are 6 unknown charges to be
found. The potential on each sub-plate can be calculated by summing contributions from charges
on all sub-plates including the charge on itself. The self-potential of one unit can be estimated as
follows. Consider a square plate of side c carrying a uniform surface charge density o (C/m
2
). The
potential at the center of the plate can be found from
1 =
o
4-
0
_
c2
c2
dr
_
c2
c2
dj
1
_
r
2
j
2
=
o
4-
0
4
_
c2
0
_
ln
__
r
2
c
2
c
_
lnr
_
dr
=
o
4-
0
4c ln
_
1
_
2
_
=

4-
0
c
4 ln
_
1
_
2
_
=

4-
0
c
8.2, (2.210)
where = oc
2
is the charge carried by the sub-plate. With this preparation, we can write down
the potential of sub-plate as follows:
4-
0
1

c =
_
8.2
2
4

1
4
_
2
_

_
2
2
8

2
_
17

2

_
1
2
_
20
_

C

_
1
_
2

2
_
10

1
8
_
2
_

1

_
2
_

2
_
18
_

1

1
2
_
2

1
= 4.2028

8.17
1
1.4472
C
1.78
1
1.4401
1
0.886
1
. (2.211)
46
Other potentials 1
1
~ 1
1
, which are all equal, can be written down in a similar way and we obtain
6 simultaneous equations for

~
1
which can be solved easily. A resultant total charge is
Q = 1.748 4-
0
1c,
and the capacitance is
C 0.8486 4-
0
a
= 0.47 8-
0
a. (2.212)
Accuracy will improve if a larger number of sub-areas are used.
The method can be applied to estimate the capacitance of a conducting cube as well. With 150
sub-areas (25 sub-areas on each side), the following capacitance emerges,
C 0.6 4-
0
a, (2.213)
where a is the side of the cube. An estimate based on a sphere having the same surface area gives
C = 4-
0
r
e
= 0.60 4-
0
a, (2.214)
where
r
e
=
_
6
4
a = 0.60a.
A well known nite element method of solving the Laplace equation is based on the fact that the
potential at the center of a cube may be approximated by the average of 6 surrounding potentials
on each face of the cube,
1
0
=
1
6
6

i=1
1
i
.
This follows from the Taylor expansion of the potential,
1(r c, j, .) = 1(r, j, .) c
01
0r

1
2
0
2
1
0r
2
,
1(r, j c, .) = 1(r, j, .) c
01
0j

1
2
0
2
1
0j
2
,
1(r, j, . c) = 1(r, j, .) c
01
0.

1
2
0
2
1
0.
2
,
Adding these 6 equations, we nd
1(r c, j, .) 1(r, j c, .) 1(r, j, . c) = 61(r, j, .) \
2
1 O(c
4
). (2.215)
47
Therefore, if 1 satises the Laplace equation, \
2
1 = 0,
1
center

1
6
6

i=1
1
i
, (2.216)
valid to order c
3
.
For 2-dimensional problems in which .-dependence is suppressed, we have
1
center

1
4
4

i=1
1
i
. (2.217)
The equation can be applied to each sub-unit having a volume c
3
(3-D) or area c
2
(2-D). Resultant
simultaneous equations can be solved numerically.
Example 11 Potential in a Long Cylinder
Consider a conducting cylinder having a cross-section as shown in Fig. ??. The periodic upper
electrode is at a potential \ and the at lower electrode is grounded. In order to apply the nite
element method, we divide the cross section into sub-sections and allocate 10 nodes points as shown.
Applying Eq. (2.217) to the potentials 1
i
(i = 1 10), we obtain
41
1
= 100 1
2
21
3
,
41
2
= 1
1
21
4
,
41
3
= 100 1
1
1
4
1
5
,
41
4
= 1
2
1
3
1
6
,
41
5
= 100 1
4
1
6
1
9
,
41
6
= 1
4
1
5
1
10
,
41
7
= 800 1
8
,
41
8
= 200 1
7
1
9
,
41
9
= 21
5
1
8
1
10
,
41
10
= 21
6
1
9
.
Solutions are: 1
1
= 68.7, 1
2
= 81.0, 1
3
= 61.8, 1
4
= 80.2, 1
5
= 8., 1
6
= 27.0, 1
7
= 07.1,
1
8
= 88.2, 1
9
= .7, 1
10
= 27.0 all in Volts. A larger number of node points will improve
accuracy.
48
Cross-section of long cylinder with periodic anode structure.
49
Problems
2.1 A ring charge of total charge and radius / is coaxial with a long grounded conducting
cylinder of radius a (< /). Determine the potential everywhere.
2.2 A ring charge of total charge and radius / is coaxial with a long uncharged dielectric cylinder
of permittivity - and radius a. Determine the potential everywhere.
2.3 A charge is placed at an axial distance / from a conducting disk of radius a. Determine
the potential everywhere. Consider two cases, (a) the disk is grounded, and (b) the disk is
oating.
2.4 Show that a charge at a distance d from the center of a oating conducting spherical shell
of radius a raises the sphere potential to
1
c
=

4-
0
d
, if d a ( outside the sphere),
or
1
c
=

4-
0
a
, if d < a ( inside).
2.5 A large grounded conducting plate has a hemispherical bob of radius a. A charge is placed
at an axial distance d from the center of the bob. Find the force on the charge.
2.6 Show that the capacitance per unit length of a parallel wire transmission line with a common
wire radius a and separation distance d is
C
|
=
-
0
ln
_
d
_
d
2
4a
2
2a
_.
2.7 A coaxial cable having inner and outer radii a and / is bent to form a thin toroidal capacitor
with a major radius 1 (a, /). Find the capacitance.
2.8 Show that the mutual capacitance between conducting spheres of radii a and / separated by
a large distance d a, / is approximately given by
C
ob
4-
0
a/
d
,
and that the capacitance of the sphere of radius a is aected by the sphere of radius / as
C
oo
4-
0
a
_
1
a/
d
2
_
.
50
2.9 Rigorous analysis of potential problems involving two conducting spheres can be made by
using the bispherical coordinates dened by
r =
a sin0 cos c
coshj cos 0
,
j =
a sin0 sinc
coshj cos 0
,
. =
a sinhj
coshj cos 0
.
j = constant surface is a sphere described by
r
2
j
2
(. acotanhj)
2
=
_
a
sinhj
_
2
,
and 0 = constant surface is
(j acotan0)
2
.
2
=
_
a
sin0
_
2
,
which is spindle-like shape.
(a) Finding the metric coecients /
j
, /
0,
and /

, show that the Laplace equation in the

bispherical coordinates is
0
0j
_
1
coshj cos 0
01
0j
_

1
sin0
0
00
_
sin0
coshj cos 0
01
00
_

1
sin
2
0(coshj cos 0)
0
2
1
0c
2
= 0.
(b) Show that the general solution to the Laplace equation is in the form
1(j, 0, c) =
_
coshj cos 0

|,n
(
|n
c
(|+
1
2
)j
1
|n
c
(|+
1
2
)j
)1
n
|
(coshj)c
in
.
As in the oblate spheroidal coordinates, in this coordinate system too, the Laplace
equation is not separable.
2.10 Using the inversion method, show that the capacitance of a solid or closed conducting hemi-
sphere of radius a is given by
C = 8-
0
a
_
1
1
_
8
_
.
2.11 Find a 2D Greens function for the interior of long cylinder having a semicircular cross-section
of radius a.
51
Hint: Assume
G(r, r
0
) =
_

n

n
(j,j
0
)
n
sin(:c) sin(:c
0
), j < j
0
< a,

n
[1
n
(j,j
0
)
n
C
n
(j
0
,j)
n
[ sin(:c) sin(:c
0
), j
0
< j < a,
where r = (j, c), r
0
= (j
0
, c
0
).
2.12 A conducting disk of radius a is placed parallel to an external electric eld 1
0
. The dominant
perturbation to the potential is dipole as shown in Example 6. What is the leading higher
order correction?
2.13 Cylindrical capacitors have cross-sections as shown. Estimate graphically the capacitance per
unit length for each. For (a), analytic expression for the capacitance is
C
|
=
2-
0
cosh
1
_
j
2
1
j
2
2
d
2
2j
1
j
2
_,
where j
1
= 4a, j
2
= 2a, and d = a. For (b), one has to resort to numerical analysis for an
exact value.
2.14 Find numerically the capacitance of a conducting cube of side a. What do you estimate for
the lower and upper bounds of the capacitance?
2.15 Derive Eq. (??), the expression for the potential due to a point charge in the oblate spheroidal
coordinates (j, 0, c) . The charge is at
_
j
0
, 0
0
, c
0
_
.
2.16 Derive Eqs. (2.138) and (2.139), the Greens function for an oblate spheroid described by
j = j
0
(const.)
2.17 The prolate spheroidal coordinates (j, 0, c) is convenient to solve potential problems involving
prolate spheroids (sphere elongated along the . axis). The coordinate transformation is
52
dened by
r = a sinhj sin0 cos c,
j = a sinhj sin0 sinc,
. = a coshj cos 0.
In the limit of j 0, j = const. surface describes a thin rod having a length 2a, and in the
limit j , it approaches a sphere with radius a coshj a sinhj. Show that the metric
coecients are:
/
j
= a
_
sinh
2
j cos
2
0 = /
0
,
/

= a sinhj cos 0.
Then, show that general solution of Laplaces equation \
2
1 = 0 in the prolate spheroidal
coordinates is in the form
1(j, 0, c) =

|,n
[
|n
1
n
|
(cosh0) 1
|n
Q
n
|
(coshj)[ [C
|n
1
n
|
(cos 0) 1
|n
Q
n
|
(cos 0)[ c
in
.
In the lowest order | = 0, possible one dimensional solutions are
1(j) = Q
0
(coshj) = lncolh
_
j
2
_
,
1(0) = Q
0
(cos 0) = lncol
_
0
2
_
.
53