Field transformations in the z-direction

In summary, the conversation discusses the derivation of a general rule for electric and magnetic fields in different configurations. The summary includes equations and conclusions from different configurations and mentions a possible mistake in the first solution. The conversation also mentions the use of Purcell's book for further understanding and addresses the issue of "bumping" a thread on a forum.
  • #1
milkism
118
15
Homework Statement
Transformation rules fot the fields in a lorentz boost in the z-direction.
Relevant Equations
Look at attempt at a solution.
Question:
a92d04b1243ab6c9802934154fe4e0ae.png

Eq. 12.109:
33868d705d5e28c81cc2daef8d6e588c.png

My solution:
We’ll first use the configuration from figure 12.35 in the book Griffiths. Where the only difference is
that v_0 is in the z-direction. The electric field in the y-direction will be the same.
925feeb890c8afb2e4c319557ca08444.png

$$E_y = \frac{\sigma}{\epsilon _0}$$
Now we're going to derive the general rule, following just like how it's done in the book Griffiths. The surface current will look like:
$$\mathbf{K_{\pm}}=\mp \sigma v_0 \hat{\mathbf{z}}$$
By the right-hand rule the field would point in the positive x direction, with the magnitude as:
$$B_x = \mu_0 \sigma v_0.$$
The third system $\overline{S}$, would ofcourse travel in the z direction instead of the x direction.
f7128b619f806d8bcb933a7831d4a6fb.png

af11917b4a0e08f22b686f0c05de4228.png

The fields will look like:
$$ \overline{E_y} = \frac{\overline{\sigma}}{\epsilon _0}$$
$$\overline{B_x} = \mu_0 \overline{\sigma} \overline{v_0}$$
Now we just need to express $\overline{\mathbf{E}}$ and $\overline{\mathbf{B}}$ in terms of $\mathbf{E}$ and $\mathbf{B}$.
We will use the same equations 12.98, 12.99, 12.101 and 12.102 to do the algebra because they didn't change.
$$\overline{E_y} = \gamma \left( E_y + vB_x \right)$$
$$\overline{B_x} = \gamma \left( B_x + \frac{v}{c^2}E_y \right)$$
To find $E_x$ and $B_y$, the configuration will be identical to figure 12.36.
385902a1c79e27be8458eb9a4e8b1d3a.png


The fields in $S$ will be as follows:
$$E_x = \frac{\sigma}{\epsilon_0}$$
$$B_y = \sigma \mu_0 v_0$$
The fields in $\overline{S}$ will look like:
$$\overline{E_x} = \gamma \left( E_x + vB_y \right)$$
$$\overline{B_y} = \gamma \left( B_y + \frac{v}{c^2}E_x \right)$$
For the z component of the electric fields will be same and for the magnetic will also be the same, if we take a solenoid parallel to the z-axis.
d8daac75f9e635809bf16b6a26712202.png
But the solenoid being on the z-axis.
$$\overline{B_z} = B_z$$
$$\overline{E_z} = E_z$$
I'm not exactly sure if I'm right, because it all depends if your configuration is correct.
 
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  • #2
Trying reading Purcell's as a complement. It uses SR to introduce E&M.
 
Last edited:
  • #3
ChiralSuperfields said:
Trying reading Purcell's as a complement. It uses SR to introduce E&M.
Can't find anything about field transformations in his book, can you point out what I did wrong?
 
  • #4
Okay I have tried to do it with different configurations.
New solution:
1680354446217.jpeg

At configuration 1 (top configuration), I concluded the following:
$$E_y = \frac{\sigma}{\epsilon _0}$$
$$\mathbf{K_{\pm}} = \pm \sigma v_0 \mathbf{\hat{z}}$$
$$B_x = -\mu _0 \sigma v_0$$
$$\overline{E_y} = \gamma \left( E_y - vB_x \right)$$
$$\overline{B_x} = \gamma \left( B_x - \frac{v}{c^2} E_y \right)$$
At configuration 2 (middle left), I concluded the following:
$$\overline{E_z}=E_z$$
At configuration 3 (bottom left), I concluded the following:
$$\overline{B_z} = B_z$$
At configuration 4 (bottom right), I concluded the following:
$$E_x = \frac{\sigma}{\epsilon_0}$$
$$B_y = \mu _0 \sigma v_0$$
$$\overline{E_x} = \gamma \left( E_x + vB_y \right)$$
$$\overline{B_y} = \gamma \left( B_y + \frac{v}{c^2} E_x \right)$$

Personal questions:
Since in griffiths they have boosted at a negative x directio, should I also have boosted in a negative z direction?
I think my second solution is more correct than my first one.
 
  • #5
milkism said:
Can't find anything about field transformations in his book, can you point out what I did wrong?
Sorry I have only read a bit of purcell's so I am not up to that level yet.
 
  • #6
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  • #7
The transformations in the second solution are correct, but indeed you should have moved the capacitor in the negative z-direction because this corresponds to you moving in the positive z-direction relative to the rest of space and thus a positive boost in the z-direction.
 
  • #8
Note: this just means changing the sign in front of v.
 

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