406-0204-AAL  Electrodynamics

SemesterSpring Semester 2019
LecturersG. M. Graf
Periodicityevery semester recurring course
Language of instructionEnglish
CommentEnrolment ONLY for MSc students with a decree declaring this course unit as an additional admission requirement.

Any other students (e.g. incoming exchange students, doctoral students) CANNOT enrol for this course unit.


AbstractDerivation and discussion of Maxwell's equations, from the static limit to the full dynamical case. Wave equation, waveguides, cavities. Generation of electromagnetic radiation, scattering and diffraction of light. Structure of Maxwell's equations, relativity theory and covariance, Lagrangian formulation. Dynamics of relativistic particles in the presence of fields and radiation properties.
Learning objectiveDevelop a physical understanding for static and dynamic phenomena related to (moving) charged objects and understand the structure of the classical field theory of electrodynamics (transverse versus longitudinal physics, invariances (Lorentz-, gauge-)). Appreciate the interrelation between electric, magnetic, and optical phenomena and the influence of media. Understand a set of classic electrodynamical phenomena and develop the ability to solve simple problems independently. Apply previously learned mathematical concepts (vector analysis, complete systems of functions, Green's functions, co- and contravariant coordinates, etc.). Prepare for quantum mechanics (eigenvalue problems, wave guides and cavities).
ContentClassical field theory of electrodynamics: Derivation and discussion of Maxwell equations, starting from the static limit (electrostatics, magnetostatics, boundary value problems) in the vacuum and in media and subsequent generalization to the full dynamical case (Faraday's law, Ampere/Maxwell law; potentials and gauge invariance). Wave equation and solutions in full space, half-space (Snell's law), waveguides, cavities, generation of electromagnetic radiation, scattering and diffraction of light (optics). Application to various specific examples. Discussion of the structure of Maxwell's equations, Lorentz invariance, relativity theory and covariance, Lagrangian formulation. Dynamics
of relativistic particles in the presence of fields and their radiation properties (synchrotron).
LiteratureJ.D. Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics
W.K.H Panovsky and M. Phillis, Classical electricity and magnetism
L.D. Landau, E.M. Lifshitz, and L.P. Pitaevskii, Electrodynamics of continuus media
A. Sommerfeld, Electrodynamics / Optics (Lectures on Theoretical Physics)
M. Born and E. Wolf, Principles of optics
R. Feynman, R. Leighton, and M. Sands, The Feynman Lectures of Physics, Vol II