(Chapter 4) Electric Fields in Matter Therefore, in general, p x = xx E x + xy E y + xz E z

4.1. Polarization
p y = xy E x + yy E y + yz E z
4.1.1. Dielectrics
ij - polarizability tensor
When an electric field is applied to matter with bound charges
(dielectrics), the charge distribution is altered slightly
p z = xz E x + yz E y + zz E z
(compared to a dramatic change for conductors).
Sometimes it is just a matter of the directions // and to the applied field.
4.1.2. Induced Dipoles r r r r
For example, if an electric field Eis applied to an atom, the center of + p = E + // E//
charge, and the center of - charge will be shifted very slightly.
The electric field is said to have induced a dipole moment. 4.1.3. Alignment of Polar Molecules
r r
p = E For weak electric field
Some charge distributions already have a permanent dipole moment
(as opposed to an induced one).
Dipole Atomic Polarizability As a result, even though F = 0 r(for a neutral charge distribution),
Moment (characteristic for every atom)
there is still a torque, N .
r r r r r
Depending on the structure of the charge distribution, polarization is
easier in one particular direction. This is almost always the
For a dipole p = qd in a (uniform) electric field: N = p E
1 2
case with molecules.

r r r
Non-uniform E Eat + q Eat q

( ) ( )
r r r r r r
F = F+ q + Fq = q Eat + q Eat q = q E

F 0
r
Uniform E
r r
F+ q = qE
r r
F q = qE
r
F = 0
r
(
r r r
F = p E )
r
However, torque is
r r r:
At a point with position vector
d r d r r r
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
r r r r r

( ) ( )
N = r+ q F+ q + rq Fq = qE + qE = qd E r r r r r
2
2 N = pE + r F
r r r
N = pE
3 4

Problem 4.5 Consider Fig. 4.6 PROBLEM 4.5

r r
p1 and p2 are (perfect) dipoles a distance r apart. z
SET UP Draw diagram
Find: r r r p1 r
(a) Torque on p1 due to p2 ?
r r p1 = p1k p2
(b) Torque on p2 due to p1 ? r
p2 = p2 r
(Calculate torque on dipole about its own center.)

EXECUTE
p1 r 1 1
Fig. 4.6 p2 ( a ) Edue to dip 2 = [3( pr 2 r )r pr 2 ] =
4 0 r 3
r r r 1 1
IDENTIFY N = p E dip (Eq. 4.4) = [3( p2 r r )r p2 r] =
relevant 4 0 r 3
concepts
1 1
[(3 p2 p2 )r] = 1 2 p32 r.
Eq. (3.99) leads to coordinate free form of electric field:
r r 1 1 =
Edip = Vdip = [3( pr r )r pr ] (Eq. 3.104 ) 4 0 r 3 4 0 r
4 0 r 3
5 6

1
PROBLEM 4.5 (continued)
EXECUTE (continued)
4.1.4. Polarization
r r
( )
(a ) N1 = pr1 Edue to dip 2 = p1k 2 p2 3 r =
4 0 r When an electric field is applied to a dielectric, dipoles are induced
and/or permanent dipoles align with the field.
pp
( )
= 1 2 3 k r directed in the page
2 0 r Result: lots of aligned dipoles!

The dielectric is said to be polarized.

(b )
r
Edue to dip1 =
1
4 0 r 3
[3(p k r)r p k]
1 1
We define the polarization:
r
Edue to dip1 =
1
4 0 r 3
[ ]
(0)r p1k = p1
4 0 r 3
k
r dipole moment
r r r p1
P=
N 2 = p2 Edue to dip1 = ( p2 r ) k
3
unit volume
4 0r
v pp
N 2 = 1 2 3 k r
4 0 r
( ) directed in the page 7 8

4.2. The Field of Polarized Object

r 1 b
V (r ) =
4.2.(1&2). Bound Charges and Physical Interpretatrion
4 0 s
r da '+ b d '
Suppose we have a material with P 0. r V

It contains many micro-dipoles lined up in the direction of external E .
r
All those little dipoles produce an electric field.
b P n
r r
(surface char. density) (4.11)
b P (volume char. density) (4.12)

Qb ( surface ) = b da
Fig. 4.8
Qb ( volume ) = bd
Now we can treat the problem just like any other one with charges using,
for example, Gausss Law.
For a field point at from a single dipole the potential is:
r
r
Vdip (r ) =
1 p
(recall 3.99) These charges ( b A and b V ) are referred to as bound charges
4 0 2
Then total potential is: They are real! We say they are bound because they are not easily
r
p (r ')
removed, but the distribution is analogous to placing on the
surface of an object and inside the volume of the object.
r 1
V (r ) =
4 0 V 2
d '
9 10
After some vector calculus it becomes (on the next page):

PROBLEM 4.11
PROBLEM 4.11. r r uniform const.
IDENTIFY b = P
relevant r
concepts b = P n
SET UP (a) L>>a (b) L<<a (c) L~a

r
P
a
L 11 12

2
PROBLEM 4.11 (continued) 4.3. Electric Displacement
EXECUTE 4.3.1. Gausss Law in the Presence of Dielectrics
P = cont. Consider the total charge density within dielectric:
r r
b = P = 0 b + f b- Bound charge density
f - Free charge density
(free electrons or ions)

Qb ( volume ) = 0 Then the differential form of Gauss Law reads

r r b + f r r
E = = 0 E = b + f
0 0
r r r
b = P n = P and, as always
E = 0 r r
Since the bound charge results from a polarization, b = P
Qb ( surface ) = bdA = Pa 2
We can write:
r r r r
0 E = P + f
( )
r r r
13 0E + P = f (4.22) 14

r r r
If we define the electric displacement D = 0E + P 4.3.3. Boundary Conditions
r r
then Gauss Law can be written D = f Recall from Chapter 2 that there is a discontinuity of Electric Field (Eq. 2.31)
below and above the surface:
r r
or in integral form
da = Q f enclosed
D
Eabove
Ebelow =

0
(2.31)
4.3.2. A Deceptive Parallel //
Eabove = Ebelow
//
(2.32) //
Eabove Ebelow
//
=0
Note that these are macroscopic field equations, the microscopic field
equations could be quite complex.
For the electric displacement we have:
Be careful about the displacement. For an electric
r field we
r said that
r r
because E = 0 we can write E = V
Dabove
Dbelow = f (4.26)
(When CURL is zero, then electric field can be presented as GRADIENT of a scalar f-n.)
r r r r
But in general D 0 because P 0
r r
//
Dabove Dbelow
//
= Pabove
//
Pbelow
//
0 ( 4.27)
D V ' 15 16

r r
4.4. Linear Dielectrics Note: In some dielectrics, the direction of P is not the same as E.
Here we need to consider the components of a susceptibility
4.4.1. Origin of Polarization
tensor
(Susceptibility, Permittivity, Dielectric Constant)
exx exy ...
eyx ... ...
As we noted earlier, Polarization arises when an electric field lines up
dipoles. How a material reacts to the application of an electric ezx ... ...
field depends on the material.
Such a medium is anisotropic.
For some dielectrics, termed linear dielectrics r r
the polarization is simply proportional to electric field. When we write P = 0 e E
r r
P = 0 e E we are considering a linear, isotropic (same in all directions),
homogeneous (same in all positions) medium.
r r r r r r
e is electric susceptibility (dimensionless) So,
D = 0 E + P = 0 E + 0 e E = 0 (1 + e )E
r
E is the TOTAL FIELD, not just the external field. r r permittivity
D = E 0 (1 + e )
The nearby dielectric material causes a polarization too. 17 18
Permittivity of free space

3
 PROBLEM 4.32
We can also define a relative permittivity or dielectric constant:
A point charge q is imbedded at the center of a sphere of linear dielectric
material (with susceptibility e and radius R). Find the electric field, the
K= = 1 + e
If there are no boundaries where e
0 polarization, and the bound charge densities, b and b. What is the
total bound charge on the sphere? Where is the compensating negative
changes, then bound charge located?
r 1 r
E = Evac IDENTIFY r r
(4.23)
K relevant
Gausss law in the
presence of dielectrics D da = Q f enclosed

The field is simply reduced by a factor of K. concepts r r

Linear dielectric: D = 0 (1 + e )E (4.32)
r r r r r
and P = 0 0 E (4.30)
D = 0E + P Sources are bound charges. Bound charges:
r r r r
Sources are free and bound charges. b P n = P r (4.11) and b P (4.12)
Qcomp = b d
Sources are free charges.
(See Eq. 4.22) Compensating negative charge (net bound charge):
r r r
Also (recall 3-dimensional delta function): 2 = 4 3 (r ) (1.99)
19 r 20

PROBLEM 4.32 (cont.) PROBLEM 4.32 (cont.)

r r r
SET UP & EXECUTE
(
D da = Q f enclosed D 4r 2 = q ) EXECUTE (cont.)

r
r q r D q Qsphere surface = 4R 2 b = q e
D=
4r 2

r E = =
4 0 (1 + e )r 2
r 1+ e

r r q r q e r e 3 r
P = 0eE = 0e = Qcomp = b d = q (r )dr = q e
4 0 (1 + e ) r 2 4 1 + e r 2 1+ e 1+ e

q e
2 = q e
r r r r 3 r The compensating
b = P =
4 1 + e 1+ (r ) negative charge
r e is at the center
r q e
b = P r =
4R 2 1+ e 21 22

Problem 4. 18 (b) Find the electric field in each slab.

r r
Consider a parallel plate capacitor
D = E
r
filled with two slabs of dielectric E1 = (down ) = (top slab )
1 2 0
material. Each slab has a thickness r 2
E2 = (down ) = (bottom slab )
a, and dielectric constants K1=2 2 3 0
and K2=1.5. Free charge density
r r
on top (bottom) plate is . ( ) (c) Find the polarization in each slab. P = 0 E
r Metal rplate
(a) Find D (D = 0) P1 = 0 = but K = 1+ = K 1
r onreach slab. 2 0 2

D da = Q f enclosed P1 = (2 1)

2
=

2
2 2
P2 = 0
3
0

= 3 = 2(1.5 1) 3 = 3

DA = A D = (direction down ) (d) Find the potential difference between the plates.

(E = V )
r r
Similarly for bottom slab: V = E1a + E2a
D = (direction down )
=
a 2a 7a
+ =
23
2 0 3 0 6 0 24

4
(e) Find the location and amount of all bound charge.
n 4.4.3. Energy in Dielectric System
( )
r r P1
= P P = cont b = 0
b n
r n P2 Recall from Chapter 2 that the energy of a system of charges can be
b = P n = P1 = (top of slab 1)
2 n thought of as being stored in the electric field.

= + P1 = + (bottom of slab 1)
2 For dielectrics we must modify an original expression for vacuum:

= P2 = (top of slab 2 ) 1
3 W = 0 E 2 d
2 all space
= + P2 = +
3
(bottom of slab 2 ) 0
r r
(f) Recalculate the field in each slab and confirm your answer to (b).
No polarization
In vacuum. E = D Energy in vacuum
In slab 1: r r
above =
2 2
=
E = D E
2
E1 =
2 0
below = + =
1 r r
D Ed
2 3 3 2
In slab 2: 2
W=
above =
2
+
2

3
=+
3 2
2 all space
E2 =
2 3 0 25 26
below = = Energy in dielectric
3 3