Maxwell's Equations and the Wave Equation
Author
Curtis Peterson
Last Updated
7 years ago
License
Creative Commons CC BY 4.0
Abstract
Here I derive the wave equation in a manner that allows you to look at each step individually
Here I derive the wave equation in a manner that allows you to look at each step individually
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\title[Maxwell's Equations and the Wave Equation]{A Derivation of the Wave Equation from Maxwell's Equations}
\author{Curtis Peterson}
\institute{Arizona State University}
\date{\today}
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\begin{frame}{What the Heck Is the Wave Equation}
The Wave Equation Satisfies the Following PDE
\begin{equation}
\frac{1}{c^2}\frac{\partial^2\psi}{\partial t^2}=\frac{\partial^2\psi}{\partial x^2}
\end{equation}
where psi is given by the general solution obtained via separation of variables.
Take note that this is the one dimensional form of the wave equation (one, unspecified component of a column matrix). The multidimentional wave equation satisfies the following PDE.
\begin{equation}
\frac{1}{c^2}\frac{\partial^2\mathbf{\psi}}{\partial t^2} = \nabla^2 \circ \mathbf{\psi}
\end{equation}
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\begin{frame}{The Derivation Itself}
By Faraday's Law
\begin{equation}
\nabla \times \textbf{E}=- \frac{\partial \textbf{B}}{\partial t}
\end{equation}
Arbitrarily take the curl of both sides of (3)
\begin{equation}
\nabla \times \nabla \times \textbf{E} =- \nabla \times \frac{\partial \textbf{B}}{\partial t}
\end{equation}
Note the following vector identity
$$\nabla \times \nabla \times \textbf{A} = \nabla \big( \nabla \circ \textbf{A} \big) - \nabla^2 \textbf{A}$$
Pay attention to the left side of (4) and apply this identity
$$\nabla \big( \nabla \circ \textbf{E} \big) - \nabla^2 \textbf{E} =- \nabla \times \frac{\partial \textbf{B}}{\partial t}$$
Now take a look at the right side an note that the derivative operator commutes
\begin{equation}
\nabla \big( \nabla \circ \textbf{E} \big) - \nabla^2 \textbf{E} =- \frac{\partial}{\partial t} \big( \nabla \times \textbf{B} \big)
\end{equation}
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\begin{frame}{The Derivation Itself Part II}
Cool, now take note of the Ampere-Maxwell equation below
\begin{equation}
\nabla \times \textbf{B} = \epsilon \big( \ \textbf{J} + \mu \frac{\partial \textbf{E}}{\partial t} \big)
\end{equation}
Now apply this to (5)
\begin{equation}
\nabla \big( \nabla \circ \textbf{E} \big) - \nabla^2 \textbf{E} = \frac{\partial}{\partial t} \big( \ \textbf{J} + \mu \frac{\partial \textbf{E}}{\partial t} \big)
\end{equation}
Assume that the current density, J, is equal to zero and apply this to (7)
$$\nabla \big( \nabla \circ \textbf{E} \big) - \nabla^2 \textbf{E} =- \mu \epsilon \frac{\partial^2 \textbf{E}}{\partial t^2}$$
Assume, also, that
$$\nabla \circ \textbf{E} = 0$$
meaning that the divergence of the electric field has to necessarily be zero. Apply this assumption to (7) as well.
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\begin{frame}{The Derivation Itself Part III}
Well look at that! We have the wave equation!
$$\nabla^2 \textbf{E} = \mu \epsilon \frac{\partial^2 \textbf{E}}{\partial t^2}$$
What is c?
$$\frac{1}{c^2}=\mu \epsilon$$
so
$$c=\sqrt{\frac{1}{\mu \epsilon}}$$
which is the propagation speed of light waves, confirmed by experiment.
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