Skip to main content

Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

Trinity Menu Trinity Search

School of Mathematics

You are here Courses > Undergraduate > Courses & Modules

Module MAU34402: Classical Electrodynamics

Credit weighting (ECTS)
5 credits
Semester/term taught
Semester 2
Contact Hours
11 weeks, 3 lectures including tutorials per week
Lecturer
 Prof. Stefan Sint
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
  • Describe how to find the Fourier transform of a Green function and hence evaluate it for the equation of d'Alembert.
  • Use the retarded Green function to solve the Maxwell equations for electromagnetic fields.
  • Describe electromagnetic radiation, including plane-wave and spherical vector waves.
  • Explain the concepts of electromagnetic potential and that of retarded time for charges undergoing acceleration.
  • Analyse simple radiating systems, in which the electric dipole, magnetic dipole or electric quadrupole dominate.
  • Show how the orthogonality and magnitude of electric and magnetic radiative fields may be established.
  • Use expressions for the fields to evaluate the differential power radiated in a particular direction, and hence find the total power.
  • Determine the motion of a radiating charged particle in the electric field of another charged particle or in a constant magnetic field.
Module Content
The purpose of module MA3432 is to outline the properties of Classical Electrodynamics as an example of a massless vector field and to indicate important features in the theory of radiation, including the intensity and directions of radiation from accelerated particles with charge. Applications determining the motion of charged particles in particular electric and magnetic fields are considered, emphasis being placed upon the role of radiation in finding the dynamics of the particles. The module forms an element of the undergraduate programme in theoretical physics being built upon prerequisite first and second year courses in classical dynamics and mathematics and leading to courses in the fourth and final year including quantum field theory. The module content will include;
  • Cartan formalism for Maxwell equations.
  • Solving Maxwell's equations; Green functions for Laplacian, d'Alembertian.
  • EM waves, polarization & stokes parameters.
  • Liénard-Wiechert potential; velocity, acceleration fields for moving charge.
  • Radiation theory; velocity and acceleration fields in three dimensions.
  • Non-relativistic Larmor formula and relativistic Liénard radiation formula.
  • Linear & circular accelerated motion; radiation inconstant magnetic field.
  • Angular distribution of relativistic radiation; electric & magnetic elements.
  • Radiation during collisions, Bremsstrahlung.
  • Introduction to radiation damping; scattering and absorption of radiation.
  • Envoi: quantum chromodynamics and the unified electroweak interaction.
Text Books
  • Classical Electrodynamics, J. David Jackson, John Wiley (3rd edition) 1998
  • Introduction to Electrodynamics, David J. Griffiths, Prentice-Hall, 1999
  • Electrodynamics courses at Stanford University: EM fields & EM radiation
Module Prerequisite
MAU34401
Assessment Detail
This module will be examined in a 2-hour examination in Trinity term. Continuous assessment will count for 20% and the annual exam will count for 80%. Re-assessments if required will consist of 100% exam.