Paper 4, Section II, B

Electrodynamics
Part II, 2012

The charge and current densities are given by ρ(t,x)0\rho(t, \mathbf{x}) \neq 0 and j(t,x)\mathbf{j}(t, \mathbf{x}) respectively. The electromagnetic scalar and vector potentials are given by ϕ(t,x)\phi(t, \mathbf{x}) and A(t,x)\mathbf{A}(t, \mathbf{x}) respectively. Explain how one can regard jμ=(ρ,j)j^{\mu}=(\rho, \mathbf{j}) as a four-vector that obeys the current conservation rule μjμ=0\partial_{\mu} j^{\mu}=0.

In the Lorenz gauge μAμ=0\partial_{\mu} A^{\mu}=0, derive the wave equation that relates Aμ=(ϕ,A)A^{\mu}=(\phi, \mathbf{A}) to jμj^{\mu} and hence show that it is consistent to treat AμA^{\mu} as a four-vector.

In the Lorenz gauge, with jμ=0j^{\mu}=0, a plane wave solution for AμA^{\mu} is given by

Aμ=ϵμexp(ikνxν)A^{\mu}=\epsilon^{\mu} \exp \left(i k_{\nu} x^{\nu}\right)

where ϵμ,kμ\epsilon^{\mu}, k^{\mu} and xμx^{\mu} are four-vectors with

ϵμ=(ϵ0,ϵ),kμ=(k0,k),xμ=(t,x).\epsilon^{\mu}=\left(\epsilon^{0}, \boldsymbol{\epsilon}\right), \quad k^{\mu}=\left(k^{0}, \mathbf{k}\right), \quad x^{\mu}=(t, \mathbf{x}) .

Show that kμkμ=kμϵμ=0k_{\mu} k^{\mu}=k_{\mu} \epsilon^{\mu}=0.

Interpret the components of kμk^{\mu} in terms of the frequency and wavelength of the wave.

Find what residual gauge freedom there is and use it to show that it is possible to set ϵ0=0\epsilon^{0}=0. What then is the physical meaning of the components of ϵ\boldsymbol{\epsilon} ?

An observer at rest in a frame SS measures the angular frequency of a plane wave travelling parallel to the zz-axis to be ω\omega. A second observer travelling at velocity vv in SS parallel to the zz-axis measures the radiation to have frequency ω\omega^{\prime}. Express ω\omega^{\prime} in terms of ω\omega.