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PS6 Solutions

This document contains solutions to physics problem set #6 from a spring 2010 class. It solves two problems related to superconductivity: 1) Derives the dispersion relation for electromagnetic waves in a superconductor by substituting expressions for the current density from the Drude and London models. 2) Explains the Meissner effect where the magnetic field is expelled from the superconductor. It calculates the magnetic field inside and outside a uniformly magnetized superconducting sphere placed in an external field.

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Yenhao Philip Chen
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179 views3 pages

PS6 Solutions

This document contains solutions to physics problem set #6 from a spring 2010 class. It solves two problems related to superconductivity: 1) Derives the dispersion relation for electromagnetic waves in a superconductor by substituting expressions for the current density from the Drude and London models. 2) Explains the Meissner effect where the magnetic field is expelled from the superconductor. It calculates the magnetic field inside and outside a uniformly magnetized superconducting sphere placed in an external field.

Uploaded by

Yenhao Philip Chen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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 141B, Spring 2010

Problem Set #6 Solutions


David Strubbe

1. (Kittel 10.3)
a) The first Maxwell equation is
H =

1 D
4
J+
c
c t

(1)

Take the curl of both sides.


H =

4
1
J +
D
c
c t

(2)

Assume = 1, as is generally true for non-magnetic materials, and substitute B = H, D = E.


B =

4

J +
E
c
c t

(3)

Use the given identity B = 2 B (only true since B = 0), and


the two-fluid decomposition J = JS + JN :
2 B =

4

( JS + JN ) +
E
c
c t

(4)

Now we substitute the relations for JS and JN from the London equation
and Ohms Law.




4
c

2 B =
E
(5)

A
+

(
E)
+
0
c
c t
42L

40
1
E+
E
(6)
= 2B+
c
c t
L
Then we use the second Maxwell equation:
2 B =

2B
40 B
1

c2 t
c2 t2
2L
1

(7)

Finally we insert a magnetic field of the form B = B0 ei(krt) :


k2 B =


1
40

B 2 (iB) 2 2 B
2
c
c
L

(8)

Therefore the dispersion relation can be written as


k 2 c2 = 40 i

c2
+ 2
2L

(9)

For some reason, Kittel is assuming = 1, though this seems unlikely for a
superconductor.
b) Substitute the terms from J with the Drude model and London penetration
depth:

2
1
nN e2
2 4 2 nS (2e)
2 2
i c
+ 2
k c = 4
m
(2m) c2
4e2
4nS e2
=
(nN i 4nS ) + 2
+ 2
(10)
m
m
provided 1, assuming nN . nS . Note that the m, n and q in
Kittels formula (10.14a) for L are the mass, density, and charge
of Cooper pairs.
The plasma frequency is
p =

c2 n
c2
4ne2
= 2
2
m
L 2nS
L

(11)

Therefore for p , the term 2 may be neglected with respect to the


term with the penetration depth, and the final result is just
k 2 c2 =

c2
2L

(12)

equivalent for a exponential form of B to


2 B =

B
2L

which is a result of the London equation.


2. (Kittel 10.7)
2

(13)

a) The Meissner effect causes the magnetic induction B to be zero inside the
superconductor. Since H = B 4M , H = 4M inside the superconductor. For a uniformly magnetized sphere, we are given that the resulting
4M
field inside is Hsphere = 4M
3 . The total field therefore is H = Ba 3 .
Setting this equal to H = 4M , we have


2
8M
Ba = 4M 1 +
(14)
=
3
3
b) The field of a magnetic dipole
~ is
H=

3
r (
r
~ ) |~
|
r3

(15)

This equation applies outside the sphere. The dipole moment of the sphere
3
is = 4R
3 M . The magnetization is in the direction of the applied field, so
at the equator of the sphere r
~ . The field due to the sphere then is
Hsphere

|~
|
4M
= 3 =
r
3

 3
 
R
Ba R 3
=
r
2
r

(16)

The total field at the surface on the equator (where r = R) is


H = Ha + Hsphere = Ba +

3Ba
Ba
=
2
2

(17)

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