PHYS3030 HIGHER ELECTROMAGNETISM

PHYS3230 APPLIED ELECTROMAGNETISM

Session: 1

  • 3 Units of Credit

Lecturer:

In the second year course PHYS2050 (or PHYS2011), classical electromagnetism was developed via Maxwell’s equations for essentially static situations. These third year courses explore the main dynamical solutions of Maxwell’s equations, which correspond to electromagnetic waves, thus linking two of the main pillars of classical science: electricity and optics. This then provides the basis for most of modern communications, as well as an understanding of the optical properties of various materials.

The course starts with a review of Maxwell’s equations, and of electromagnetic potentials. We then embark on a thorough treatment of plane waves in both nonconducting and conducting media, including Poynting’s theorem on energy transfer. The application of boundary conditions at the interface of two different media then leads to the optical laws of reflection and refraction.

Through the use of retarded potentials we may observe how an accelerating electric charge radiates electromagnetic energy. Solutions for both the dipole, and half-wave antenna, are then developed. After considering the challenging question of radiation reaction, we are then able to study radiation emission by a classical atom, including the properties of spectral lines. Electric charges will also respond to an oscillating electric field, and oscillate themselves. Since they will then re-radiate energy, this is the basis of scattering, and also of the optical (dielectric) properties of materials.

Special relativity arose out of electromagnetism and the connections between the two topics is studied.

Assumed knowledge:

Second year electromagnetism (PHYS2050 or PHYS2011) and vector calculus (MATH2011). Some knowledge of differential equation is important (MATH2120), and basic complex analysis (MATH2520) would be useful for PHYS3030.

Assessment:

  • Four assignments 15%
  • Mid-session test 15%
  • Two hour exam 70%

Text book:

  • Griffiths, Introduction to Electrodynamics.
  • A list of reference books will be provided.

Syllabus:

Maxwell’s equations, potentials, energy, wave solutions; waves in nonconducting and conducting media, reflection and refraction and the interface between two media; retarded potentials, dipole radiation, half-wave antenna, radiation reaction, radiation from a classical atom, spectral lines; scattering amplitude, Thomson and Rayleigh scattering, propagation in various dilute and dense media, dispersion. Field of a moving charge. Extended review of special relativity and its relation to electromagnetism.

 

Further Information

For more information about PHYS3030 contact:

 

[ Search | School Information | Physics Courses | Research | Graduate ]
[ Resources | Physics ! | Physics Main Page | UNSW Main Page ]
School of Physics - The University of New South Wales - Sydney Australia 2052
Site Comments: physicsweb@phys.unsw.edu.au
© School of Physics - UNSW 2000