A2.5

Electromagnetism
Part II, 2004

(i) Write down the general solution of Poisson's equation. Derive from Maxwell's equations the Biot-Savart law for the magnetic field of a steady localised current distribution.

(ii) A plane rectangular loop with sides of length aa and bb lies in the plane z=0z=0 and is centred on the origin. Show that when r=ra,br=|\mathbf{r}| \gg a, b, the vector potential A(r)\mathbf{A}(\mathbf{r}) is given approximately by

A(r)=μ04πmrr3\mathbf{A}(\mathbf{r})=\frac{\mu_{0}}{4 \pi} \frac{\mathbf{m} \wedge \mathbf{r}}{r^{3}}

where m=Iabz^\mathbf{m}=I a b \hat{\mathbf{z}} is the magnetic moment of the loop.

Hence show that the magnetic field B(r)\mathbf{B}(\mathbf{r}) at a great distance from an arbitrary small plane loop of area AA, situated in the xyx y-plane near the origin and carrying a current II, is given by

B(r)=μ0IA4πr5(3xz,3yz,2r23x23y2)\mathbf{B}(\mathbf{r})=\frac{\mu_{0} I A}{4 \pi r^{5}}\left(3 x z, 3 y z, 2 r^{2}-3 x^{2}-3 y^{2}\right)