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Steven Errede
LECTURE NOTES 9
AC Electromagnetic Fields Associated with a Parallel-Plate Capacitor
3-D View:
V V z d V z 0 Vo
At DC (f = 0 Hz), we know the static solution to this problem, namely that the {free} charge
Qfree on the capacitor is related to the potential difference V across the capacitors plates by:
Q free C V where the capacitance of the capacitor is: C o A d (Farads) for d a ;
the area of one plate of the parallel plate capacitor is A a 2 .
Since there is no free electric charge between the plates of the parallel plate capacitor,
then for d a , the solution to Laplaces Equation 2V r 0 {derived from Gauss Law
E r free r o 0 , with E r V r } yields:
z d
V V z d V z 0 E r d
z 0
But: E r Eo z between the plates of the parallel plate capacitor for d a
V V z d V z 0 Vo 0 Vo Eo d Side View:
E r Vo d z free o n1
Q free C V o AVo V
free z d o o o Eo
A A Ad d
Q free C V AV V
And: free z 0 o o o o o Eo
A A Ad d
We ask:
What happens when we slowly raise the frequency from f = 0 Hz (static E-field) to f > 0?
e.g. Apply a sinusoidally time-varying potential difference across the plates of the capacitor of
the form: V t Vo eit Vo cos t i sin t single frequency, f 2 e.g. using a
sine-wave function generator , as shown in the figure below:
Function
Generator
V t Vo eit
For d a :
E r , t
z z Eo eit z with: Eo Vo d
d d
The potential difference V t and electric field E t vs. time t: E t E t Eo eit
Maxwells Equations must be obeyed in the gap-region between the parallel plates of
capacitor, where: free r , t bound r , t 0 and: J free r , t J bound r , t 0 :
1) Coulombs Law: E r , t 0
2) No magnetic charges / monopoles : B r , t 0
3) Faradays Law: E r , t B r , t t Maxwells Displacement Current:
4) Amperes Law: B r , t o o E r , t t o J D r , t where: J D r , t o E r , t t
Amperes Law (with Maxwells Displacement Current) in integral form tells us that:
B r , t da
J r , t da n.b. not a closed surface!
S S o D
B r , t d J D r , t da o o E r , t t da Using Stokes
C o S S Theorem
E r, t t da
1
C B r , t d 2 where: c 2 1 o o
c t S
Let us consider a contour path of integration C1 enclosing the surface S1 as shown in the figure below:
da dan daz
da d d
(in cylindrical
coordinates)
E r, t t da
1
E r , t Eo eit z and: B r , t d c
C1 2
t S1
Note that: B r , t B , t due to the circular/azimuthal symmetry associated with this problem.
d d d , and da dan daz by the right-hand rule, da d d z , da d d
in cylindrical coordinates, thus B d , and E da , and:
1 1 2 E t E t
B , t 2 2 E t 2 B , t 2 2
c t c 2 t 2c t
E t
But: E t Eo eit i Eo eit i E t
t
i i
B , t 2 E t 2 Eo eit Bo eit
2c 2c
Bo
i
B , t Bo eit 2 Eo eit i 2 Eo eit
2c 2c
n.b. B , t also oscillates sinusoidally like E t but is 90o out-of-phase with E t .
Note also that B , t is linearly proportional to (the radial distance from the axis of
capacitor) and that B 0 0 at the center of the capacitor:
NOTE: B a 0
because E a 0
for d a in our model
of this capacitor.
Thus, we see that for > 0, (i.e. there exists) an azimuthal, -dependent and time-varying
i Eo it
magnetic field B , t 2
e in the gap region of the parallel-plate capacitor,
2c
for d a . Note also that the azimuthal magnetic field is also linearly proportional to 2 f ,
thus as the frequency increases, this magnetic field also increases in strength.
Note that for = 0, B 0 as we obtained for the static limit case!
Furthermore, because the capacitor now has a non-zero magnetic field associated with it, for
> 0, the complex, frequency-dependent impedance Z R i (Ohms)
{where R = AC resistance and = AC reactance} of the parallel-plate capacitor is no
longer just: Z i i 1 C (Ohms) where 1 C = the AC capacitive
C C C
1
ZCTOT ZC Z L i C i L i i LC
C
1
ZCTOT i LC
C
Note that at low frequencies 0 for the parallel-plate capacitor with d a , the capacitive
reactance 1 C L and thus Z TOT 0 Z 0 . However, at very
C L C C C
1 2 1 2
u E r , t o E r , t , uM r , t B r , t and uTOT
EM
r , t uE r , t uM r , t
2 2o
i
Now because the capacitor has a non-zero time-varying magnetic field: B , t 2 Eo eit
2c
Faradays Law E r , t B r , t t tells us that there will be an additional {induced}
electric field, because B r , t is also varying in time!!!
t
Faradays Law in integral form is: E r , t da S
B r , t da m
S t t
t B r, t da is the magnetic flux (Webers = Tesla-m2) enclosed by the surface S
where m S
t
at time t. Applying Stokes Theorem, we have: C E r , t d B r , t da m
t S t
where the contour C around a closed path of integration encloses the surface S through which
t B r, t da passes.
magnetic flux m S
Now B B (i.e. points in the {azimuthal} direction) and thus here we need B da hence
da2 da also, and thus we take the closed contour C2 line-integral path around the surface S2
as shown in the side-view figure below:
Side-View:
The induced electric field, as created by the time-varying magnetic field is:
t
C2 E ind r , t d S2 B r , t da2 m
t t
t B r, t da = magnetic flux enclosed by contour C2 passing through surface S2
where m S2
2
Then: Eind r , t d Eind r , t d 1 Eind r , t d 2 Eind r , t d 3 Eind r , t d 4
C2 (1) (2) (3) (4)
d 1 d z
d 2 d ( y here in y z plane)
d 3 d z d z
d 4 d d
Now Eind r , t B r , t t tells us that if B B direction, then in cylindrical coordinates:
0 0 0 0
1 Ez E
E
Ez 1 0
E E z r , t
Eind r , t
E
z
z z
0 0
Thus, we see that E r , t E r , t only, for all points , , z in the gap region of
-plate capacitor and for all times t. However, we see that due to the azimuthal / rotational
symmetry associated with the cylindrical -plate capacitor, neither Eind r , t nor B r , t can
have any explicit -dependence, thus E 0 and E 0 , which in turn respectively
z
imply that E z 0 and E 0 . Note further that Faradays Law tells us that we
must also have Eind r , t B r , t .
For d a , the electric field in the gap region of the -plate capacitor cannot explicitly
depend on z either. Thus, E z 0 the only surviving term in Eind r , t is:
E z r , t
Eind r , t .
Eind r , t Eind r , t z i.e. the induced E -field points in the z direction (must be B B )
which is satisfied because z .
Thus, if the induced electric field Eind r , t Eind r , t z {only}, then we see that:
Eind r , t d Eind r , t d 1 Eind r , t d 2 Eind r , t d 3 Eind r , t d 4
C2 (1) (2) (3) (4)
But Eind r , t has no explicit z-dependence, thus:
z d z d
Eind r , t d E ind 0, t dzE nd , t dz E ind 0, t d E ind , t d
C2 z o z 0
Or: Eind r , t d E ind 0, t E ind , t d where: Eind , t E ind , t z
C2
But: C2 ind
E r , t d B r , t da2 where S 2 surface enclosed by contour C2
t S2
and da2 dan2 da (i.e. S2 lies in the y-z plane) dax {here} and da dydz d dz
i
Now: B , t Bo eit 2 Eo eit and x ( S2 lies in the y-z plane)
2c
z d i
S2 , t da2 0 z 0 2c 2 E0e d dz but: 1
it
B
i z d i d 1
2 Eo eit d dz 2 E0 eit d and: d 2
2
2c 0 z 0
2c 0
i 2 d
S2 2 4c 2 E0e
i t
B , t da
i 2 d i 2 d
t S2
it i t
Then: B r , t da2 E0 e i E0 e
t 4c
2
4c
2
2 2d
B r , t da2 E0 eit .
t 2 S 4c 2
Then: Eind r , t d B r , t da2 yields:
C2 t 2 S
2 2 d
d Eind 0, t Eind , t E0 eit z
4c 2
Note that the ds cancel on both sides of the above equation. Note also that because of the
explicit 2 dependence on the RHS of above equation, we see that Eind 0, t 0 .
2
2 2
Hence: Eind , t it
Eo e z it
Eo e z
4c 2 2c
Thus the total E -field in the capacitor gap is:
2
2
EToT , t E t Eind , t Eo e z
it it
Eo e z 1
it
Eo e z
2c 2c
Thus, we see here that the induced electric field caused by the time-varying magnetic field
points in the direction opposite to the initial/original E -field, reducing the overall E -field for
0 , as we would expect from Lenzs Law.
However, note that we now also have an additional contribution to the B -field inside the gap-region
of the parallel plate capacitor, due to the presence of the induced E -field contribution, Eind , t .
Before we proceed further on this discussion, it would be best for us change our notation:
Call our original time-dependent E -field, E r , t Eo eit E1 r , t .
This E -field in turn creates a time-dependent B -field by Amperes Law:
E1 r , t 1 E1 r , t
B1 r , t o o 2 .
t c t
However, because B1 r , t also varies in time, it turn creates another induced time-dependent
electric field by Faradays Law:
B1 r , t
E2 r , t .
t
But E2 r , t is also time-varying, and so it in turn produces another time-varying contribution to
the magnetic field B2 r , t .
But because B2 r , t is also time-varying, it in turn will induce another contribution to the
electric field E3 r , t and so on i.e.:
A. L. F .L. A. L. F . L. A. L. F . L. A. L. F . L.
E1 r , t B1 r , t E2 r , t B2 r , t E3 r , t B3 r , t E4 r , t B4 r , t . . . .
Then: ETOT r , t E1 r , t E2 r , t E3 r , t E4 r , t E5 r , t ... En r , t
n 1
And: BTOT r , t B1 r , t B2 r , t B3 r , t B4 r , t B5 r , t ... Bn r , t
n 1
1
C1 B1 r , t d c 2 t S1 E1 r , t da1
C2 2
E r , t d B 1 r , t da2
t 2
S
1
C1 B 2 r , t d E 2 r , t da1
c t 1
2 S
C2 E3 r , t d t S2 B2 r , t da2
1
C1 B3 r , t d c2 t S1 E3 r , t da1
C2 4
E r , t d B 3 r , t da2
t 2
S
. etc.
Algorithmically, this infinite sequence can be written as:
n 1,E1 r , t
1
C1 B n r , t d 2 En r , t da1 Bn r , t
c t S1
Infinite Loop
En 1 r , t d Bn r , t da2 En 1 r , t
C2 t S2
n n 1
Where contour C1 enclosing surface S1 and area element da1 are associated with the figure drawn
on page 3 of these lecture notes, and where contour C2 enclosing surface S2 and area element da2
are associated with the figure drawn on page 5 of these lecture notes.
1
2
1
4
1
6
V
ETOT , t 1 2 2 2 ... Eo eit z with: Eo o
1! 2c 2! 2c 3! 2c d
1
2
1
4
1
6
i
BTOT , t 1 2 2 2 ... Bo eit with: Bo 2 Eo
1! 2c 2! 2c 3! 2c 2c
2
i i i i
We also see that: Bn 2
En and: En 1 Bn 2 En En
2c 2 2 2c 2c
2
i i i
and: Bn 1 2 En 1 2 Bn Bn
2c 2c 2 2c
Due to the cylindrical geometry / azimuthal symmetry associated with this problem, it should
not come as a surprise that:
Defining: x k where k = wavenumber
c c
2 c
k f
f 2
In general, the series expansion of the ordinary Bessel functions of the first kind, of order n are:
1
k n2k
x
Jn x
k 0 k ! n k 1 2
Thus, for the cylindrical -plate capacitor with d a the electric and magnetic fields in the gap
region are of the form:
V
E , t J 0 c Eo eit z J 0 k Eo eit z with k
c
and Eo o
d
B is 90o out-of-phase with E {here}:
i
B , t J0 B e
c o
it
J 0 k Bo eit with Bo
2c 2
Eo i 2 Eo
2c
Note that for 0 that: E 0, t Eo eit but: B 0, t 0 .
The {Radial} Zeroes of J0(x): x k
c
a.) When: = 0, f = 0 then: k 0 (static case). Then: x k 0 and J 0 0 1
c
V V
E , t Eo z o z with: Eo o and: B , t 0 n.b. Same result as original
d d static calculation
And: J 0 ka J 0 1.257 108 1.0 (n.b. see/refer to above graph of J0(x) vs. x)
Thus, we see that at f = 60 Hz, the E -field is that of the DC E -field, and e.g. if Vo = 10 V and
V 10 V
d = 0.1 mm a = 1 cm, i.e. d = 104 m a = 102 m, then: Eo o 4 105 Volts /m
d 10 m
a ka 1.257 10 8
and: Bo a 2 E0 E0 105 2.11012 Tesla {i.e. is very small}.
2c 2c 2 3 108
Then: (ka) = 0.021 x 0.01 = 2.1 x 104 and J0(ka) = J0 (2.1 x 104) 1 (still).
Vo ka
Eo (constant), and: Bo a Eo 3.5 108 Tesla 35 nT (still very small)
d 2c
for Eo 10 Volts/meter and {still} c Bo a 10.5 Volts /m Eo 105 V /m
5
d.) Now suppose: f = 100 GHz = 1011 Hz and = 2f = 6.3 x 1011 rads/sec
2 6.3 1011
Then: k 2.1103 radians/m
c 3 10 8
Suppose instead that we pick: ka = 2.4048 = x1 = 1st zero of J0(x) = J0(k) (a = 102 m = 1 cm)
Then: k = 240.48 radians/m = f = 1.15 x 1010 Hz = 11.5 GHz (in the microwave region)
c
2 ik
Then: E , t J 0 k Eo eit z and 2.61 cm , B , t J 0 k Bo eit , Bo Eo
k 2c
E
Eo
Electric field
= 0 at a f = 11.5 GHz
when a = 0.01 m
ka 2.4048
0
a
c B
cBo 12 kaEo
Magnetic field
= 0 at a f = 11.5 GHz
when a = 0.01 m
ka 2.4048
B 0 0
0
a
o A 1
Capacitance: C for d a ZToT ZC Z L i L
d C
Vo eit Vo e it Vo2
I , I *
2
then: I II
1 1 1
2
i L i L L
C C C
1 1 Vo2 1 2 k
2 2
B d J 02 k 2 Eo2 d ddz
2
Thus: Wm LI L
2 2 o 1
2
2 o v 4c
L
C
1 d Vo d 2 d k 2 2 a 2
2 2 2
= L Eo J 0 kp 3 d
2 1
2
2 o 4 c 2 0
2
C L
Eo2 d o o k 2 Eo2 a 1
= L J 02 k 3 d with o o , ck , k c
1
2
2 o o c2
L
C
L o 2 a
2
2 J 02 kp 3 d A
1 2c d o
L
C
2 2 2
1 1 L 1 L
L A L A 2A A 2 L2 A 2A A L
2 2
C C C C C
2
2A 1
or: A L 2
1 L A
2
0
C C
a
b c
b b 2 4ac
Quadratic equation of the form: aL2 bL c 0 , solve for L: L .
2a
2
4A
2 2 2 2
1 2A 1 2A 1 2A 1 2A 2A
C C 2 C2 C C C
L
2A 2 2A 2
1 2A C
2 2
1 2A 1 4A 4A 2 4A 2 1 4A
C C C C C
L
2A 2
2A 2
1 2A C 1 4A C 1 1 4A
L Now: 1 1 2 ... for 1 , thus:
2A 2
2 8 C
1 4A
2
o 2 a
J 02 k 3 d
8 C A 2c 2 d d o d
L
0 a a
J 02 k 3 d J 02 k 3 d
2A 2 2C 2 A2 2
2c 2 o A2 0 2A 2 0
2 o
d2
Where the capacitance and inductance of the parallel-plate capacitor, for d a are:
o A o d 4A 2 2
J 02 k 3 d for
a a
C and L 2 2 J 02 kp 3 d 1 .
d 2A 0
C Ac o
2
The electric field E a 0 for these values of ka, corresponding to wavelengths
k
c ck
and frequencies f
2 2
Compare with radius 1 = 2.61 cm f1 = 1.15 x 1010 Hz = 11.5 GHz
a = 1.0 cm and 2 = 1.14 cm f2 = 2.64 x 1010 Hz = 26.4 GHz
diameter D = 2a = 2.0 cm 3 = 0.73 cm f3 = 4.13 x 1010 Hz = 41.3 GHz
of -plate cylindrical 4 = 0.53 cm f4 = 5.63 x 1010 Hz = 56.3 GHz
capacitor, as well as 5 = 0.42 cm f5 = 7.13 x 1010 Hz = 71.3 GHz
the gap dimension of 6 = 0.35 cm f6 = 8.63 x 1010 Hz = 86.3 GHz
d = 0.1 mm = 0.01 cm . . .
. . .
Note that because the electric field E a 0 for these specific frequencies
(corresponding to the zeroes of J0(x)=J0(ka)), this means that physically, we could actually short
out the capacitor at = a and it wouldnt make any difference to the behavior / physics of this
capacitor at these specific frequencies f1, f2, f3, . .!!!
For ka = zero of J0(ka) {i.e. J0(ka) = 0), we can short out the capacitor by wrapping it e.g. with
sheet metal at = a , thus turning it into a cylindrical, fully-enclosed can with d a !
No change in physics for frequencies f1, f2, f3, . .
because E a 0 for these frequencies!
Thus, at these frequencies f1, f2, f3, . . fn corresponding
to the zeroes of the Bessel Function J0(ka) (i.e. J0(ka) = 0),
a cylindrical conducting metal can of radius a and height
d a is actually a resonant cavity with electric field:
E , t J 0 kn Eo eint z and magnetic field:
B , t J 0 kn B0 eit
subject to the boundary conditions that:
E a, t E z a, t 0 and also that:
B a, t B a, t 0
n
for: kn , n 2 f n , n = 1, 2, 3, . . .
c
ik V
with: Bo Eo and: Eo o
2c d
We will see shortly in the next set of P436 Lecture Notes (# 10) that the resonant frequencies
of a resonant cavity and the allowed modes of EM wave propagation in wave guides can be
derived directly from the wave equation for EM waves in these structures, as determined by the
boundary conditions imposed on the EM waves by the conducting walls of these devices and also
the allowed polarization states of these EM waves.
Here in these lecture notes, we obtained harmonic EM wave solutions for E and B in the gap
region of a parallel plate capacitor (and cylindrical can capacitor, subject to boundary condition
E = 0 at = a) via a perturbative technique, analogous to what we did last semester in P435 for
the E -field associated with a dielectric sphere immersed in an initially uniform external E -field
and the B -field associated with a magnetizable sphere immersed in an initially uniform external
B -field. (See/work Griffiths Problems 4.23 and 6.18).
Homework Exercises:
1.) Calculate the electric, magnetic and total energy densities u E , , z , t , um , , z , t and
uTot , , z , t and their time averages; make e.g. plots of these vs. . Investigate/plot their
behavior for low frequencies 0 and at higher frequencies, when n ckn c xn a
where xn kn a = zeroes of J 0 xn 0 .
1
2.) Calculate Poyntings vector S , , z , t E , , z, t B , , z, t and its time average;
o
make plots of S vs. , investigate/plot its behavior for low frequencies 0 and
when n ckn c xn a .
3.) Calculate the linear EM momentum density, EM , , z , t o o S , , z , t and angular
momentum density, EM , , z , t r EM , , z , t , and their time averages; make plots
of EM and EM vs. ; investigate/plot their behavior for low frequencies