Jackson 4.

2 Homework Problem Solution

Dr. Christopher S. Baird University of Massachusetts Lowell

PROBLEM: A point dipole with dipole moment p is located at the point x0. From the properties of the derivative of a Dirac delta function, show that for calculation of the potential or the energy of a dipole in an external field, the dipole can be described by an effective charge density
eff x =p x x 0

SOLUTION: The potential due to a dipole is: x = 1 p x x 0 4 0 x x 03

The potential due to a charge density is: = x ' 1 d x' 4 0 x x '

so that: x ' 1 p x x0 1 = d x' 3 4 0 x x0 4 0 x x ' p x x 0 = x ' d x' x x ' x x 0 = x

x x0

Use the relation proved earlier that

x x 0

1 where r is the separation vector x x 0

p x

1 x ' = d x' x x ' x x 0

Add to the left an integral and a Dirac delta:

x ' x0 p '

1 x ' d x '= d x' x x ' x x '

Use integration by parts x ' 1 p ' x ' x 0 d x '= d x' x x ' x x '

Shrink down the integrals until it must be true at every point, so that the integrands must match.
x ' =p ' x ' x 0

Relabel the primed variables to be unprimed:

eff x =p x x 0

We can also go other way in the same manner, putting this into Coulomb's law and ending up with the dipole potential. The energy of a dipole in an external field is W =[ p ]x =x
0

The energy in general of a charge distribution in an external field is W = x x d x So that:

[p x ] x=x = x x d x
0

x x 0 p x d x = x x d x Applying integration by parts: x p x x0 d x = x x d x Equating integrands:

eff x =p x x 0