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Prob11 25

This document summarizes a physics lecture on calculating the radiated power of a charged particle approaching a conducting surface. It describes representing the system as a charge and its image charge below the surface. Taking the second derivative of the dipole moment and equating it to the force allows calculating the radiated power as a function of the particle's height z above the plane. The total radiated power is given as P = (μ0qc3)/(4πz4).

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263 views1 page

Prob11 25

This document summarizes a physics lecture on calculating the radiated power of a charged particle approaching a conducting surface. It describes representing the system as a charge and its image charge below the surface. Taking the second derivative of the dipole moment and equating it to the force allows calculating the radiated power as a function of the particle's height z above the plane. The total radiated power is given as P = (μ0qc3)/(4πz4).

Uploaded by

ozi125_2
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Physics 112: Week 12

Sam Schoenholz

11.25 When a charged particle approaches (or leaves) a conducting surface, radiation is emitted, associated
with the changing electric dipole moment of the charge and its image. If the particle has mass m and
charge q, find the total radiated power, as a function of its height z above the plane.

We will consider a particle approaching a conducting surface, slowly enough so that it may be treated
classically. We will place a restriction on the system that the only force that may affect the particle is
the force from the conductor; were this not the case we could wiggle the particle around and dissipate an
arbitrary amount of power. As was true at the beginning of the course we may alternatively represent
this situation, uniquely, as the original charge with an opposite charge situated symmetrically a distance
z below the surface. We recall that the dipole moment for two particles separated by a distance z is
given by,
p = qz = qzẑ.
Taking two consecutive derivatives we have that,

p̈ = qz̈ẑ.

However, we know that the force from the image charge will necessarily determine d̈ in its entirety.
Furthermore, from symmetry we will necessarily have that the entire force will be directed in the ẑ
direction. Hence we may say,
F = mz̈ẑ,
where F is the electrostatic force or in this case,

1 q2
F= ẑ.
4πε0 (2z)2

Plugging this in we have that to the above we find that,

1 q2
z̈ = .
42 mπε 0 z
2

We then recall that the power radiated due to a changing dipole moment is given by,

µ0 p̈2
P = .
6πc
Plugging in we have that,

µ0 1 q6
P = .
6πc 44 m2 π 2 ε20 z 4

Note now that 20 = µ20 /c4 and hence we may rewrite this as,
 µ qc 3 1
0
P =
4π 24m2 z 4
as required.

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