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Green Functions For The Wave Equation: Golam Mustafa University of South Dakota

This document discusses Green functions for solving the wave equation. It introduces the inhomogeneous wave equation and Helmholtz equation in the frequency domain. For the free space case without boundaries, the solution is a spherically symmetric Green function. The time-dependent Green function is derived via Fourier transform as a retarded or advanced function, with the retarded Green function giving effects after their causes. Green functions allow separating the solution into incoming and outgoing wavefields.

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韩良成
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109 views12 pages

Green Functions For The Wave Equation: Golam Mustafa University of South Dakota

This document discusses Green functions for solving the wave equation. It introduces the inhomogeneous wave equation and Helmholtz equation in the frequency domain. For the free space case without boundaries, the solution is a spherically symmetric Green function. The time-dependent Green function is derived via Fourier transform as a retarded or advanced function, with the retarded Green function giving effects after their causes. Green functions allow separating the solution into incoming and outgoing wavefields.

Uploaded by

韩良成
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 12

Green Functions for the

Wave Equation

Golam Mustafa
University of South Dakota
The Wave Equation
Maxwell equations in terms of potentials in Lorenz gauge

Both are wave equations with known source distribution f(x,t) :

If there are no boundaries, solution by Fourier transform and the


Green function method is best.
Green Functions for the Wave Equation
G. Mustafa 2
Fourier transforms
Fourier transformation in time

and inverse Fourier transformation

Green Functions for the Wave Equation


G. Mustafa 3
Inhomogeneous Helmholtz wave equation
In the frequency domain, the wave equation

transforms to Inhomogeneous Helmholtz wave equation

where is the wave number associate with frequencyω


The Green function appropriate to Inhomogeneous Helmholtz
wave equation satisfies the equation:

Green Functions for the Wave Equation


G. Mustafa 4
Free space Helmholtz Green function
In free space with no boundaries, the solution must be
spherically symmetric about x=x/. Let then

becomes

For

has the solution

Green Functions for the Wave Equation


G. Mustafa 5
Free space Helmholtz Green function
In the limit of electrostatic,

then,

with the solution gives

and represent diverging and conversing spherical


waves respectively.

Green Functions for the Wave Equation


G. Mustafa 6
Time dependent Green function
The time dependent Green functions corresponding to
and satisfy

Fourier transform of above equation leads to

The solutions of above equation are therefore,

Green Functions for the Wave Equation


G. Mustafa 7
Time dependent Green function
Inverse Fourier transform of
gives rise to

where is the relative time.


Since ,

or, more explicitly,

Green Functions for the Wave Equation


G. Mustafa 8
Retarded and advanced Green functions
The delta function requires to contribute
and R/c is always nonnegative. Therefore,

 for G(+) only contributes, or sources only affect the


wave function after they act. Thus G(+) is called a retarded
Green function, as the affects are retarded (after) their
causes.

 G(−) is the advanced Green function, giving effects which


precede their causes.

Green Functions for the Wave Equation


G. Mustafa 9
In and Out Field
When a source distribution is localized in time and space, we
can envision two limiting situations:
 At time , there exists a wave satisfying the
homogeneous equation.

G(+) ensures no contribution before the source is activated.


 At time , exists.

G(-) makes sure no contribution after the source shuts off.


Green Functions for the Wave Equation
G. Mustafa 10
In and Out Field
With the initial condition , we can write the
general solution

where [ ]ret means

Green Functions for the Wave Equation


G. Mustafa 11
Green Functions for the Wave Equation
G. Mustafa 12

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