ece1228

ECE1228H Electromagnetic Theory. Lecture 10: Fresnel relations. Taught by Prof. M. Mojahedi

November 20, 2016 math and physics play , , , ,

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Motivation

In class, an overview of the Fresnel relations for a TE mode electric field were presented. Here’s a fleshing out of the details is presented, as well as the equivalent for the TM mode.

Single interface TE mode.

The Fresnel reflection geometry for an electric field \( \BE \) parallel to the interface (TE mode) is sketched in fig. 1.

fresneltefig1

fig. 1. Electric field TE mode Fresnel geometry.

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:20}
\boldsymbol{\mathcal{E}}_i = \Be_2 E_i e^{j \omega t – j \Bk_{i} \cdot \Bx },
\end{equation}

with an assumption that this field maintains it’s polarization in both its reflected and transmitted components, so that

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:40}
\boldsymbol{\mathcal{E}}_r = \Be_2 r E_i e^{j \omega t – j \Bk_{r} \cdot \Bx },
\end{equation}

and
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:60}
\boldsymbol{\mathcal{E}}_t = \Be_2 t E_i e^{j \omega t – j \Bk_{t} \cdot \Bx },
\end{equation}

Measuring the angles \( \theta_i, \theta_r, \theta_t \) from the normal, with \( i = \Be_3 \Be_1 \) the wave vectors are

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:620}
\begin{aligned}
\Bk_{i} &= \Be_3 k_1 e^{i\theta_i} = k_1\lr{ \Be_3 \cos\theta_i + \Be_1\sin\theta_i } \\
\Bk_{r} &= -\Be_3 k_1 e^{-i\theta_r} = k_1 \lr{ -\Be_3 \cos\theta_r + \Be_1 \sin\theta_r } \\
\Bk_{t} &= \Be_3 k_2 e^{i\theta_t} = k_2 \lr{ \Be_3 \cos\theta_t + \Be_1 \sin\theta_t }
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

So the time harmonic electric fields are

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:640}
\begin{aligned}
\BE_i &= \Be_2 E_i \exp\lr{ – j k_1 \lr{ z\cos\theta_i + x \sin\theta_i} } \\
\BE_r &= \Be_2 r E_i \exp\lr{ – j k_1 \lr{ -z \cos\theta_r + x \sin\theta_r}} \\
\BE_t &= \Be_2 t E_i \exp\lr{ – j k_2 \lr{ z \cos\theta_t + x \sin\theta_t}}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

The magnetic fields follow from Faraday’s law

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:900}
\begin{aligned}
\BH
&= \inv{-j \omega \mu } \spacegrad \cross \BE \\
&= \inv{-j \omega \mu } \spacegrad \cross \Be_2 e^{-j \Bk \cdot \Bx} \\
&= \inv{j \omega \mu } \Be_2 \cross \spacegrad e^{-j \Bk \cdot \Bx} \\
&= -\inv{\omega \mu } \Be_2 \cross \Bk e^{-j \Bk \cdot \Bx} \\
&= \inv{\omega \mu } \Bk \cross \BE
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

We have

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:920}
\begin{aligned}
\kcap_{i} \cross \Be_2 &= -\Be_1 \cos\theta_i + \Be_3\sin\theta_i \\
\kcap_{r} \cross \Be_2 &= \Be_1 \cos\theta_r + \Be_3 \sin\theta_r \\
\kcap_{t} \cross \Be_2 &= -\Be_1 \cos\theta_t + \Be_3 \sin\theta_t,
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

Note that
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1500}
\begin{aligned}
\frac{k}{\omega \mu}
&=
\frac{k}{k v \mu} \\
&=
\frac{\sqrt{\mu\epsilon}}{\mu} \\
&=\sqrt
{
\frac{\epsilon}{\mu}
} \\
&=
\inv{\eta}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

so
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:940}
\begin{aligned}
\BH_{i} &= \frac{ E_i}{\eta_1} \lr{ -\Be_1 \cos\theta_i + \Be_3\sin\theta_i } \exp\lr{ – j k_1 \lr{ z\cos\theta_i + x \sin\theta_i} } \\
\BH_{r} &= \frac{ r E_i}{\eta_1} \lr{ \Be_1 \cos\theta_r + \Be_3 \sin\theta_r } \exp\lr{ – j k_1 \lr{ -z \cos\theta_r + x \sin\theta_r}} \\
\BH_{t} &= \frac{ t E_i}{\eta_2} \lr{ -\Be_1 \cos\theta_t + \Be_3 \sin\theta_t } \exp\lr{ – j k_2 \lr{ z \cos\theta_t + x \sin\theta_t}}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

The boundary conditions at \( z = 0 \) with \( \ncap = \Be_3 \) are

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:960}
\begin{aligned}
\ncap \cross \BH_1 &= \ncap \cross \BH_2 \\
\ncap \cdot \BB_1 &= \ncap \cdot \BB_2 \\
\ncap \cross \BE_1 &= \ncap \cross \BE_2 \\
\ncap \cdot \BD_1 &= \ncap \cdot \BD_2,
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

At \( x = 0 \), this is

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1060}
\begin{aligned}
-\frac{1}{\eta_1} \cos\theta_i + \frac{r }{\eta_1} \cos\theta_r &= -\frac{t }{\eta_2} \cos\theta_t \\
k_1 \sin\theta_i + k_1 r \sin\theta_r &= k_2 t \sin\theta_t \\
1 + r &= t
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

When \( t = 0 \) the latter two equations give Shell’s first law

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1080}
\boxed{
\sin\theta_i = \sin\theta_r.
}
\end{equation}

Assuming this holds for all \( r, t \) we have

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1120}
k_1 \sin\theta_i (1 + r ) = k_2 t \sin\theta_t,
\end{equation}

which is Snell’s second law in disguise
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1140}
k_1 \sin\theta_i = k_2 \sin\theta_t.
\end{equation}

With
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1540}
\begin{aligned}
k
&= \frac{\omega}{v} \\
&= \frac{\omega}{c} \frac{c}{v} \\
&= \frac{\omega}{c} n,
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

so \ref{eqn:emtLecture10:1140} takes the form

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1560}
\boxed{
n_1 \sin\theta_i = n_2 \sin\theta_t.
}
\end{equation}

With
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1200}
\begin{aligned}
k_{1z} &= k_1 \cos\theta_i \\
k_{2z} &= k_2 \cos\theta_t,
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

we can solve for \( r, t \) by inverting

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1180}
\begin{bmatrix}
\mu_2 k_{1z} & \mu_1 k_{2z} \\
-1 & 1 \\
\end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}
r \\
t
\end{bmatrix}
=
\begin{bmatrix}
\mu_2 k_{1z} \\
1
\end{bmatrix},
\end{equation}

which gives

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1220}
\begin{bmatrix}
r \\
t
\end{bmatrix}
=
\begin{bmatrix}
1 & -\mu_1 k_{2z} \\
1 & \mu_2 k_{1z}
\end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}
\mu_2 k_{1z} \\
1
\end{bmatrix},
\end{equation}

or
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1240}
\boxed{
\begin{aligned}
r &= \frac{\mu_2 k_{1z} – \mu_1 k_{2z}}{\mu_2 k_{1z} + \mu_1 k_{2z}} \\
t &= \frac{2 \mu_2 k_{1z}}{\mu_2 k_{1z} + \mu_1 k_{2z}}
\end{aligned}
}
\end{equation}

There are many ways that this can be written. Dividing both the numerator and denominator by \( \mu_1 \mu_2 \omega/c \), and noting that \( k = \omega n/c \), we have

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1680}
\begin{aligned}
r &= \frac
{ \frac{n_1}{\mu_1} \cos\theta_i – \frac{n_2}{\mu_2} \cos\theta_t }
{ \frac{n_1}{\mu_1} \cos\theta_i + \frac{n_2}{\mu_2} \cos\theta_t } \\
t &=
\frac{ 2 \frac{n_1}{\mu_1} \cos\theta_i }
{ \frac{n_1}{\mu_1} \cos\theta_i + \frac{n_2}{\mu_2} \cos\theta_t },
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

which checks against (4.32,4.33) in [1].

Single interface TM mode.

For completeness, now consider the TM mode.

Faraday’s law also can provide the electric field from the magnetic

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1280}
\begin{aligned}
\kcap \cross \BH
&= \eta \kcap \cross \lr{ \kcap \cross \BE } \\
&= -\eta \kcap \cdot \lr{ \kcap \wedge \BE } \\
&= -\eta \lr{ \BE – \kcap \lr{ \kcap \cdot \BE } } \\
&= -\eta \BE.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

so

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1300}
\BE = \eta \BH \cross \kcap.
\end{equation}

So the magnetic and electric fields are

\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1520}
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1320}
\begin{aligned}
\BH_i &= \Be_2 \frac{E_i}{\eta_1} \exp\lr{ – j k_1 \lr{ z\cos\theta_i + x \sin\theta_i} } \\
\BH_r &= \Be_2 r \frac{E_i}{\eta_1} \exp\lr{ – j k_1 \lr{ -z \cos\theta_r + x \sin\theta_r}} \\
\BH_t &= \Be_2 t \frac{E_i}{\eta_2} \exp\lr{ – j k_2 \lr{ z \cos\theta_t + x \sin\theta_t}}
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1340}
\begin{aligned}
\BE_{i} &= -E_i \lr{ -\Be_1 \cos\theta_i + \Be_3\sin\theta_i } \exp\lr{ – j k_1 \lr{ z\cos\theta_i + x \sin\theta_i} } \\
\BE_{r} &= -r E_i \lr{ \Be_1 \cos\theta_r + \Be_3 \sin\theta_r } \exp\lr{ – j k_1 \lr{ -z \cos\theta_r + x \sin\theta_r}} \\
\BE_{t} &= -t E_i \lr{ -\Be_1 \cos\theta_t + \Be_3 \sin\theta_t } \exp\lr{ – j k_2 \lr{ z \cos\theta_t + x \sin\theta_t}}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

Imposing the constraints \ref{eqn:emtLecture10:960}, at \( x = z = 0 \) we have

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1440}
\begin{aligned}
\inv{\eta_1}\lr{1 + r} &= \frac{t}{\eta_2} \\
\cos\theta_i – r \cos\theta_r &= t \cos\theta_t \\
\epsilon_1 \lr{ \sin\theta_i + r \sin\theta_r} &= t \epsilon_2 \sin\theta_t
\end{aligned}.
\end{equation}

At \( t = 0 \), the first and third of these give \( \theta_i = \theta_r \). Assuming this incident and reflection angle equality holds for all values of \( t \), we have

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1580}
\begin{aligned}
\sin\theta_i(1 + r) &= t \frac{\epsilon_2}{\epsilon_1} \sin\theta_t \\
\sin\theta_i \frac{\eta_1}{\eta_2} t &=
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

or
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1600}
\epsilon_1 \eta_1 \sin\theta_i = \epsilon_2 \eta_2 \sin\theta_t.
\end{equation}

This is also Snell’s second law \ref{eqn:emtLecture10:1560} in disguise, which can be seen by

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1620}
\begin{aligned}
\epsilon_1 \eta_1
&=
\epsilon_1 \sqrt{\frac{\mu_1}{\epsilon_1}} \\
&=
\sqrt{\epsilon_1 \mu_1} \\
&=
\inv{v} \\
&=
\frac{n}{c}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

The remaining equations in matrix form are

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1460}
\begin{bmatrix}
\cos\theta_i & \cos\theta_t \\
-1 & \frac{\eta_1}{\eta_2}
\end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}
r \\
t
\end{bmatrix}
=
\begin{bmatrix}
\cos\theta_i \\
1
\end{bmatrix},
\end{equation}

the inverse of which is
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1480}
\begin{bmatrix}
r \\
t
\end{bmatrix}
=
\inv{ \frac{\eta_1}{\eta_2} \cos\theta_i + \cos\theta_t }
\begin{bmatrix}
\frac{\eta_1}{\eta_2} & – \cos\theta_t \\
1 & \cos\theta_i
\end{bmatrix}
\begin{bmatrix}
\cos\theta_i \\
1
\end{bmatrix}
=
\inv{ \frac{\eta_1}{\eta_2} \cos\theta_i + \cos\theta_t }
\begin{bmatrix}
\frac{\eta_1}{\eta_2} \cos\theta_i – \cos\theta_t \\
2 \cos\theta_i
\end{bmatrix},
\end{equation}

or
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1640}
\boxed{
\begin{aligned}
r
&=
\frac{\eta_1 \cos\theta_i – \eta_2 \cos\theta_t }{ \eta_1 \cos\theta_i + \eta_2 \cos\theta_t } \\
t &=
\frac{2 \eta_2 \cos\theta_i}{ \eta_1 \cos\theta_i + \eta_2 \cos\theta_t }.
\end{aligned}
}
\end{equation}

Multiplication of the numerator and denominator by \( c/\eta_1 \eta_2 \), noting that \( c/\eta = n/\mu \) gives

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:emtLecture10:1700}
\begin{aligned}
r
&=
\frac{\frac{n_2}{\mu_2} \cos\theta_i – \frac{n_1}{\mu_1} \cos\theta_t }{ \frac{n_2}{\mu_2} \cos\theta_i + \frac{n_1}{\mu_1} \cos\theta_t } \\
t &=
\frac{2 \frac{n_1}{\mu_1} \cos\theta_i }{ \frac{n_2}{\mu_2} \cos\theta_i + \frac{n_1}{\mu_1} \cos\theta_t } \\
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

which checks against (4.38,4.39) in [1].

References

[1] E. Hecht. Optics. 1998.

Transverse gauge

November 16, 2016 math and physics play , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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Jackson [1] has an interesting presentation of the transverse gauge. I’d like to walk through the details of this, but first want to translate the preliminaries to SI units (if I had the 3rd edition I’d not have to do this translation step).

Gauge freedom

The starting point is noting that \( \spacegrad \cdot \BB = 0 \) the magnetic field can be expressed as a curl

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:20}
\BB = \spacegrad \cross \BA.
\end{equation}

Faraday’s law now takes the form
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:40}
\begin{aligned}
0
&= \spacegrad \cross \BE + \PD{t}{\BB} \\
&= \spacegrad \cross \BE + \PD{t}{} \lr{ \spacegrad \cross \BA } \\
&= \spacegrad \cross \lr{ \BE + \PD{t}{\BA} }.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

Because this curl is zero, the interior sum can be expressed as a gradient

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:60}
\BE + \PD{t}{\BA} \equiv -\spacegrad \Phi.
\end{equation}

This can now be substituted into the remaining two Maxwell’s equations.

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:80}
\begin{aligned}
\spacegrad \cdot \BD &= \rho_v \\
\spacegrad \cross \BH &= \BJ + \PD{t}{\BD} \\
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

For Gauss’s law, in simple media, we have

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:140}
\begin{aligned}
\rho_v
&=
\epsilon \spacegrad \cdot \BE \\
&=
\epsilon \spacegrad \cdot \lr{ -\spacegrad \Phi – \PD{t}{\BA} }
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

For simple media again, the Ampere-Maxwell equation is

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:100}
\inv{\mu} \spacegrad \cross \lr{ \spacegrad \cross \BA } = \BJ + \epsilon \PD{t}{} \lr{ -\spacegrad \Phi – \PD{t}{\BA} }.
\end{equation}

Expanding \( \spacegrad \cross \lr{ \spacegrad \cross \BA } = -\spacegrad^2 \BA + \spacegrad \lr{ \spacegrad \cdot \BA } \) gives
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:120}
-\spacegrad^2 \BA + \spacegrad \lr{ \spacegrad \cdot \BA } + \epsilon \mu \PDSq{t}{\BA} = \mu \BJ – \epsilon \mu \spacegrad \PD{t}{\Phi}.
\end{equation}

Maxwell’s equations are now reduced to
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:180}
\boxed{
\begin{aligned}
\spacegrad^2 \BA – \spacegrad \lr{ \spacegrad \cdot \BA + \epsilon \mu \PD{t}{\Phi}} – \epsilon \mu \PDSq{t}{\BA} &= -\mu \BJ \\
\spacegrad^2 \Phi + \PD{t}{\spacegrad \cdot \BA} &= -\frac{\rho_v }{\epsilon}.
\end{aligned}
}
\end{equation}

There are two obvious constraints that we can impose
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:200}
\spacegrad \cdot \BA – \epsilon \mu \PD{t}{\Phi} = 0,
\end{equation}

or
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:220}
\spacegrad \cdot \BA = 0.
\end{equation}

The first constraint is the Lorentz gauge, which I’ve played with previously. It happens to be really nice in a relativistic context since, in vacuum with a four-vector potential \( A = (\Phi/c, \BA) \), that is a requirement that the four-divergence of the four-potential vanishes (\( \partial_\mu A^\mu = 0 \)).

Transverse gauge

Jackson identifies the latter constraint as the transverse gauge, which I’m less familiar with. With this gauge selection, we have

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:260}
\spacegrad^2 \BA – \epsilon \mu \PDSq{t}{\BA} = -\mu \BJ + \epsilon\mu \spacegrad \PD{t}{\Phi}
\end{equation}
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:280}
\spacegrad^2 \Phi = -\frac{\rho_v }{\epsilon}.
\end{equation}

What’s not obvious is the fact that the irrotational (zero curl) contribution due to \(\Phi\) in \ref{eqn:transverseGauge:260} cancels the corresponding irrotational term from the current. Jackson uses a transverse and longitudinal decomposition of the current, related to the Helmholtz theorem to allude to this.

That decomposition follows from expanding \( \spacegrad^2 J/R \) in two ways using the delta function \( -4 \pi \delta(\Bx – \Bx’) = \spacegrad^2 1/R \) representation, as well as directly

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:300}
\begin{aligned}
– 4 \pi \BJ(\Bx)
&=
\int \spacegrad^2 \frac{\BJ(\Bx’)}{\Abs{\Bx – \Bx’}} d^3 x’ \\
&=
\spacegrad
\int \spacegrad \cdot \frac{\BJ(\Bx’)}{\Abs{\Bx – \Bx’}} d^3 x’
+
\spacegrad \cdot
\int \spacegrad \wedge \frac{\BJ(\Bx’)}{\Abs{\Bx – \Bx’}} d^3 x’ \\
&=
-\spacegrad
\int \BJ(\Bx’) \cdot \spacegrad’ \inv{\Abs{\Bx – \Bx’}} d^3 x’
+
\spacegrad \cdot \lr{ \spacegrad \wedge
\int \frac{\BJ(\Bx’)}{\Abs{\Bx – \Bx’}} d^3 x’
} \\
&=
-\spacegrad
\int \spacegrad’ \cdot \frac{\BJ(\Bx’)}{\Abs{\Bx – \Bx’}} d^3 x’
+\spacegrad
\int \frac{\spacegrad’ \cdot \BJ(\Bx’)}{\Abs{\Bx – \Bx’}} d^3 x’
–
\spacegrad \cross \lr{
\spacegrad \cross
\int \frac{\BJ(\Bx’)}{\Abs{\Bx – \Bx’}} d^3 x’
}
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

The first term can be converted to a surface integral

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:320}
-\spacegrad
\int \spacegrad’ \cdot \frac{\BJ(\Bx’)}{\Abs{\Bx – \Bx’}} d^3 x’
=
-\spacegrad
\int d\BA’ \cdot \frac{\BJ(\Bx’)}{\Abs{\Bx – \Bx’}},
\end{equation}

so provided the currents are either localized or \( \Abs{\BJ}/R \rightarrow 0 \) on an infinite sphere, we can make the identification

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:340}
\BJ(\Bx)
=
-\spacegrad \inv{4 \pi} \int \frac{\spacegrad’ \cdot \BJ(\Bx’)}{\Abs{\Bx – \Bx’}} d^3 x’
+
\spacegrad \cross \spacegrad \cross \inv{4 \pi} \int \frac{\BJ(\Bx’)}{\Abs{\Bx – \Bx’}} d^3 x’
\equiv
\BJ_l +
\BJ_t,
\end{equation}

where \( \spacegrad \cross \BJ_l = 0 \) (irrotational, or longitudinal), whereas \( \spacegrad \cdot \BJ_t = 0 \) (solenoidal or transverse). The irrotational property is clear from inspection, and the transverse property can be verified readily

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:360}
\begin{aligned}
\spacegrad \cdot \lr{ \spacegrad \cross \lr{ \spacegrad \cross \BX } }
&=
-\spacegrad \cdot \lr{ \spacegrad \cdot \lr{ \spacegrad \wedge \BX } } \\
&=
-\spacegrad \cdot \lr{ \spacegrad^2 \BX – \spacegrad \lr{ \spacegrad \cdot \BX } } \\
&=
-\spacegrad \cdot \lr{\spacegrad^2 \BX} + \spacegrad^2 \lr{ \spacegrad \cdot \BX } \\
&= 0.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

Since

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:380}
\Phi(\Bx, t)
=
\inv{4 \pi \epsilon} \int \frac{\rho_v(\Bx’, t)}{\Abs{\Bx – \Bx’}} d^3 x’,
\end{equation}

we have

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:400}
\begin{aligned}
\spacegrad \PD{t}{\Phi}
&=
\inv{4 \pi \epsilon} \spacegrad \int \frac{\partial_t \rho_v(\Bx’, t)}{\Abs{\Bx – \Bx’}} d^3 x’ \\
&=
\inv{4 \pi \epsilon} \spacegrad \int \frac{-\spacegrad’ \cdot \BJ}{\Abs{\Bx – \Bx’}} d^3 x’ \\
&=
\frac{\BJ_l}{\epsilon}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

This means that the Ampere-Maxwell equation takes the form

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:transverseGauge:420}
\spacegrad^2 \BA – \epsilon \mu \PDSq{t}{\BA}
= -\mu \BJ + \mu \BJ_l
= -\mu \BJ_t.
\end{equation}

This justifies the transverse in the label transverse gauge.

References

[1] JD Jackson. Classical Electrodynamics. John Wiley and Sons, 2nd edition, 1975.

Continuity equation and Ampere’s law

November 15, 2016 math and physics play , , ,

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Q:

Show that without the displacement current \( \PDi{t}{\BD} \), Maxwell’s equations will not satisfy conservation relations.

A:

Without the displacement current, Maxwell’s equations are
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:continuityDisplacement:20}
\begin{aligned}
\spacegrad \cross \BE( \Br, t ) &= – \PD{t}{\BB}(\Br, t) \\
\spacegrad \cross \BH( \Br, t ) &= \BJ \\
\spacegrad \cdot \BD(\Br, t) &= \rho_{\mathrm{v}}(\Br, t) \\
\spacegrad \cdot \BB(\Br, t) &= 0.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

Assuming that the continuity equation must hold, we have
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:continuityDisplacement:40}
\begin{aligned}
0
&= \spacegrad \cdot \BJ + \PD{t}{\rho_\mathrm{v}} \\
&= \spacegrad \cdot \lr{ \spacegrad \cross \BH } + \PD{t}{} (\spacegrad \cdot \BD) \\
&= \PD{t}{} (\spacegrad \cdot \BD) \\
&\ne 0.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

This shows that the current in Ampere’s law must be transformed to

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:continuityDisplacement:60}
\BJ \rightarrow \BJ + \PD{t}{\BD},
\end{equation}

should we wish the continuity equation to be satisfied. With such an addition we have

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:continuityDisplacement:80}
\begin{aligned}
0
&= \spacegrad \cdot \BJ + \PD{t}{\rho_\mathrm{v}} \\
&= \spacegrad \cdot \lr{ \spacegrad \cross \BH – \PD{t}{\BD} } + \PD{t}{} (\spacegrad \cdot \BD) \\
&= \spacegrad \cdot \lr{ \spacegrad \cross \BH } – \spacegrad \cdot \PD{t}{\BD} + \PD{t}{} (\spacegrad \cdot \BD).
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

The first term is zero (assuming sufficient continity of \(\BH\)) and the second two terms cancel when the space and time derivatives of one are commuted.

Dipole field from multipole moment sum

November 12, 2016 math and physics play , , , , ,

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As indicated in Jackson [1], the components of the electric field can be obtained directly from the multipole moments

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:dipoleFromSphericalMoments:20}
\Phi(\Bx)
= \inv{4 \pi \epsilon_0} \sum \frac{4 \pi}{ (2 l + 1) r^{l + 1} } q_{l m} Y_{l m},
\end{equation}

so for the \( l,m \) contribution to this sum the components of the electric field are

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:dipoleFromSphericalMoments:40}
E_r
=
\inv{\epsilon_0} \sum \frac{l+1}{ (2 l + 1) r^{l + 2} } q_{l m} Y_{l m},
\end{equation}

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:dipoleFromSphericalMoments:60}
E_\theta
= -\inv{\epsilon_0} \sum \frac{1}{ (2 l + 1) r^{l + 2} } q_{l m} \partial_\theta Y_{l m}
\end{equation}

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:dipoleFromSphericalMoments:80}
\begin{aligned}
E_\phi
&= -\inv{\epsilon_0} \sum \frac{1}{ (2 l + 1) r^{l + 2} \sin\theta } q_{l m} \partial_\phi Y_{l m} \\
&= -\inv{\epsilon_0} \sum \frac{j m}{ (2 l + 1) r^{l + 2} \sin\theta } q_{l m} Y_{l m}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

Here I’ve translated from CGS to SI. Let’s calculate the \( l = 1 \) electric field components directly from these expressions and check against the previously calculated results.

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:dipoleFromSphericalMoments:100}
\begin{aligned}
E_r
&=
\inv{\epsilon_0} \frac{2}{ 3 r^{3} }
\lr{
2 \lr{ -\sqrt{\frac{3}{8\pi}} }^2 \textrm{Re} \lr{
(p_x – j p_y) \sin\theta e^{j\phi}
}
+
\lr{ \sqrt{\frac{3}{4\pi}} }^2 p_z \cos\theta
} \\
&=
\frac{2}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 r^3}
\lr{
p_x \sin\theta \cos\phi + p_y \sin\theta \sin\phi + p_z \cos\theta
} \\
&=
\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 r^3} 2 \Bp \cdot \rcap.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

Note that

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:dipoleFromSphericalMoments:120}
\partial_\theta Y_{11} = -\sqrt{\frac{3}{8\pi}} \cos\theta e^{j \phi},
\end{equation}

and

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:dipoleFromSphericalMoments:140}
\partial_\theta Y_{1,-1} = \sqrt{\frac{3}{8\pi}} \cos\theta e^{-j \phi},
\end{equation}

so

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:dipoleFromSphericalMoments:160}
\begin{aligned}
E_\theta
&=
-\inv{\epsilon_0} \frac{1}{ 3 r^{3} }
\lr{
2 \lr{ -\sqrt{\frac{3}{8\pi}} }^2 \textrm{Re} \lr{
(p_x – j p_y) \cos\theta e^{j\phi}
}
–
\lr{ \sqrt{\frac{3}{4\pi}} }^2 p_z \sin\theta
} \\
&=
-\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 r^3}
\lr{
p_x \cos\theta \cos\phi + p_y \cos\theta \sin\phi – p_z \sin\theta
} \\
&=
-\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 r^3} \Bp \cdot \thetacap.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

For the \(\phicap\) component, the \( m = 0 \) term is killed. This leaves

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:dipoleFromSphericalMoments:180}
\begin{aligned}
E_\phi
&=
-\frac{1}{\epsilon_0} \frac{1}{ 3 r^{3} \sin\theta }
\lr{
j q_{11} Y_{11} – j q_{1,-1} Y_{1,-1}
} \\
&=
-\frac{1}{3 \epsilon_0 r^{3} \sin\theta }
\lr{
j q_{11} Y_{11} – j (-1)^{2m} q_{11}^\conj Y_{11}^\conj
} \\
&=
\frac{2}{\epsilon_0} \frac{1}{ 3 r^{3} \sin\theta }
\textrm{Im} q_{11} Y_{11} \\
&=
\frac{2}{3 \epsilon_0 r^{3} \sin\theta }
\textrm{Im} \lr{
\lr{ -\sqrt{\frac{3}{8\pi}} }^2 (p_x – j p_y) \sin\theta e^{j \phi}
} \\
&=
\frac{1}{ 4 \pi \epsilon_0 r^{3} }
\textrm{Im} \lr{
(p_x – j p_y) e^{j \phi}
} \\
&=
\frac{1}{ 4 \pi \epsilon_0 r^{3} }
\lr{
p_x \sin\phi – p_y \cos\phi
} \\
&=
-\frac{\Bp \cdot \phicap}{ 4 \pi \epsilon_0 r^3}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

That is
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:dipoleFromSphericalMoments:200}
\boxed{
\begin{aligned}
E_r &=
\frac{2}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 r^3}
\Bp \cdot \rcap \\
E_\theta &= –
\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 r^3}
\Bp \cdot \thetacap \\
E_\phi &= –
\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 r^3}
\Bp \cdot \phicap.
\end{aligned}
}
\end{equation}

These are consistent with equations (4.12) from the text for when \( \Bp \) is aligned with the z-axis.

Observe that we can sum each of the projections of \( \BE \) to construct the total electric field due to this \( l = 1 \) term of the multipole moment sum

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:dipoleFromSphericalMoments:n}
\begin{aligned}
\BE
&=
\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 r^3}
\lr{
2 \rcap (\Bp \cdot \rcap)
–
\phicap ( \Bp \cdot \phicap)
–
\thetacap ( \Bp \cdot \thetacap)
} \\
&=
\frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 r^3}
\lr{
3 \rcap (\Bp \cdot \rcap)
–
\Bp
},
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

which recovers the expected dipole moment approximation.

References

[1] JD Jackson. Classical Electrodynamics. John Wiley and Sons, 2nd edition, 1975.

Vector wave equation in spherical coordinates

November 10, 2016 math and physics play , , ,

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For a vector \( \BA \) in spherical coordinates, let’s compute the Laplacian

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:20}
\spacegrad^2 \BA,
\end{equation}

to see the form of the wave equation. The spherical vector representation has a curvilinear basis
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:40}
\BA = \rcap A_r + \thetacap A_\theta + \phicap A_\phi,
\end{equation}

and the spherical Laplacian has been found to have the representation

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:60}
\spacegrad^2 \psi
=
\inv{r^2} \PD{r}{} \lr{ r^2 \PD{r}{ \psi} }
+ \frac{1}{r^2 \sin\theta} \PD{\theta}{} \lr{ \sin\theta \PD{\theta}{ \psi } }
+ \frac{1}{r^2 \sin^2\theta} \PDSq{\phi}{ \psi}.
\end{equation}

Evaluating the Laplacian will require the following curvilinear basis derivatives

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:80}
\begin{aligned}
\partial_\theta \rcap &= \thetacap \\
\partial_\theta \thetacap &= -\rcap \\
\partial_\theta \phicap &= 0 \\
\partial_\phi \rcap &= S_\theta \phicap \\
\partial_\phi \thetacap &= C_\theta \phicap \\
\partial_\phi \phicap &= -\rcap S_\theta – \thetacap C_\theta.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

We’ll need to evaluate a number of derivatives. Starting with the \( \rcap \) components

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:120}
\partial_r \lr{ r^2 \partial_r \lr{ \rcap \psi} }
=
\rcap \partial_r \lr{ r^2 \partial_r \psi }
\end{equation}

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:140}
\begin{aligned}
\partial_\theta \lr{ S_\theta \partial_\theta \lr{ \rcap \psi } }
&=
\partial_\theta \lr{ S_\theta (\thetacap \psi + \rcap \partial_\theta \psi ) } \\
&=
C_\theta (\thetacap \psi + \rcap \partial_\theta \psi )
+ S_\theta \partial_\theta (\thetacap \psi + \rcap \partial_\theta \psi ) \\
&=
C_\theta (\thetacap \psi + \rcap \partial_\theta \psi )
+ S_\theta \partial_\theta ((\partial_\theta \thetacap) \psi + (\partial_\theta \rcap) \partial_\theta \psi )
+ S_\theta \partial_\theta (\thetacap \partial_\theta \psi + \rcap \partial_{\theta \theta} \psi ) \\
&=
C_\theta (\thetacap \psi + \rcap \partial_\theta \psi )
+ S_\theta ((-\rcap) \psi + (\thetacap) \partial_\theta \psi )
+ S_\theta (\thetacap \partial_\theta \psi + \rcap \partial_{\theta \theta} \psi ) \\
&=
\rcap \lr{
C_\theta \partial_\theta \psi
– S_\theta \psi
+ S_\theta \partial_{\theta \theta} \psi
}
+\thetacap \lr{
C_\theta \psi
+ 2 S_\theta \partial_\theta \psi
}
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:160}
\begin{aligned}
\partial_{\phi \phi} \lr{ \rcap \psi}
&=
\partial_\phi \lr{ (\partial_\phi \rcap) \psi + \rcap \partial_\phi \psi } \\
&=
\partial_\phi \lr{ (S_\theta \phicap) \psi + \rcap \partial_\phi \psi } \\
&=
S_\theta \partial_\phi (\phicap \psi)
+ \partial_\phi \lr{ \rcap \partial_\phi \psi } \\
&=
S_\theta (\partial_\phi \phicap) \psi
+ S_\theta \phicap \partial_\phi \psi
+ (\partial_\phi \rcap) \partial_\phi \psi
+ \rcap \partial_{\phi\phi} \psi \\
&=
S_\theta (-S_\theta \rcap – C_\theta \thetacap) \psi
+ S_\theta \phicap \partial_\phi \psi
+ (S_\theta \phicap) \partial_\phi \psi
+ \rcap \partial_{\phi\phi} \psi \\
&=
\rcap \lr{
– S_\theta^2 \psi
+ \partial_{\phi\phi} \psi
}
+
\thetacap \lr{
– S_\theta C_\theta \psi
}
+
\phicap \lr{
2 S_\theta \phicap \partial_\phi \psi
}
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

This gives

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:180}
\begin{aligned}
\spacegrad^2 (\rcap A_r)
&=
\rcap \lr{
\inv{r^2}
\partial_r \lr{ r^2 \partial_r A_r }
+
\inv{r^2 S_\theta}
\lr{
C_\theta \partial_\theta A_r
– S_\theta A_r
+ S_\theta \partial_{\theta \theta} A_r
}
+ \inv{r^2 S_\theta^2}
\lr{
– S_\theta^2 A_r
+ \partial_{\phi\phi} A_r
}
} \\
&\quad +
\thetacap
\lr{
\inv{r^2 S_\theta}
\lr{
C_\theta A_r
+ 2 S_\theta \partial_\theta A_r
}
–
\inv{r^2 S_\theta}
S_\theta C_\theta A_r
} \\
&\quad +
\phicap
\lr{
\inv{r^2 S_\theta^2}
2 S_\theta \partial_\phi A_r
} \\
&=
\rcap \lr{
\spacegrad^2 A_r
-\frac{2}{r^2 } A_r
}
+
\frac{\thetacap}{r^2}
\lr{
\frac{C_\theta}{S_\theta} A_r
+ 2 \partial_\theta A_r
– C_\theta A_r
}
+
\phicap
\frac{2}{r^2 S_\theta} \partial_\phi A_r.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

Next, let’s compute the derivatives of the \( \thetacap \) projection.

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:220}
\partial_r \lr{ r^2 \partial_r \lr{ \thetacap \psi} }
=
\thetacap \partial_r \lr{ r^2 \partial_r \psi }
\end{equation}

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:240}
\begin{aligned}
\partial_\theta \lr{ S_\theta \partial_\theta \lr{ \thetacap \psi } }
&=
\partial_\theta \lr{ S_\theta
\lr{
(\partial_\theta \thetacap ) \psi
+\thetacap \partial_\theta \psi
}
} \\
&=
\partial_\theta
\lr{ S_\theta
\lr{
(-\rcap ) \psi
+\thetacap \partial_\theta \psi
}
} \\
&=
C_\theta \lr{
-\rcap \psi
+\thetacap \partial_\theta \psi
}
+
S_\theta
\lr{
-(\partial_\theta \rcap) \psi
-\rcap \partial_\theta \psi
+(\partial_\theta \thetacap) \partial_\theta \psi
+\thetacap \partial_{\theta \theta} \psi
} \\
&=
C_\theta \lr{
-\rcap \psi
+\thetacap \partial_\theta \psi
}
+
S_\theta
\lr{
-(\thetacap) \psi
-\rcap \partial_\theta \psi
+(-\rcap) \partial_\theta \psi
+\thetacap \partial_{\theta \theta} \psi
} \\
&=
\rcap \lr{
-C_\theta \psi
-2 S_\theta \partial_\theta \psi
}
+
\thetacap \lr{
+C_\theta \partial_\theta \psi
-S_\theta \psi
+S_\theta \partial_{\theta \theta} \psi
} \\
&=
\rcap \lr{
-C_\theta \psi
-2 S_\theta \partial_\theta \psi
}
+
\thetacap \lr{
+\partial_\theta (S_\theta \partial_\theta \psi)
-S_\theta \psi
}
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:260}
\begin{aligned}
\partial_{\phi \phi} \lr{ \thetacap \psi}
&=
\partial_{\phi} \lr{
(\partial_\phi \thetacap) \psi
+\thetacap \partial_\phi \psi
} \\
&=
\partial_{\phi} \lr{
(C_\theta \phicap) \psi
+\thetacap \partial_\phi \psi
} \\
&=
C_\theta \partial_{\phi} (\phicap \psi)
+
\partial_{\phi} ( \thetacap \partial_\phi \psi ) \\
&=
C_\theta (\partial_\phi \phicap) \psi
+C_\theta \phicap \partial_{\phi} \psi
+ (\partial_\phi \thetacap) \partial_\phi \psi
+\thetacap \partial_{\phi\phi} \psi \\
&=
C_\theta (-\rcap S_\theta – \thetacap C_\theta) \psi
+C_\theta \phicap \partial_{\phi} \psi
+ (C_\theta \phicap) \partial_\phi \psi
+\thetacap \partial_{\phi\phi} \psi \\
&=
-\rcap C_\theta S_\theta \psi
+\thetacap \lr{
-C_\theta C_\theta \psi
+\partial_{\phi\phi} \psi
}
+2 \phicap C_\theta \partial_\phi \psi,
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

which gives
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:360}
\begin{aligned}
\spacegrad^2 (\thetacap A_\theta)
&=
\rcap
\lr{
\inv{r^2 S_\theta}
\lr{
-C_\theta A_\theta
-2 S_\theta \partial_\theta A_\theta
}
–
\inv{r^2 S_\theta^2}
C_\theta S_\theta A_\theta
} \\
&\quad +
\thetacap \lr{
\inv{r^2} \partial_r \lr{ r^2 \partial_r A_\theta }
+
\inv{r^2 S_\theta}
\lr{
+\partial_\theta (S_\theta \partial_\theta A_\theta)
-S_\theta A_\theta
}
+\inv{r^2 S_\theta^2}
\lr{
-C_\theta C_\theta A_\theta
+\partial_{\phi\phi} A_\theta
}
} \\
&\quad +
\phicap \lr{
\inv{r^2 S_\theta^2}
2 C_\theta \partial_\phi A_\theta
} \\
&=
-2 \rcap
\inv{r^2 S_\theta}
\partial_\theta (S_\theta A_\theta)
+
\thetacap \lr{
\spacegrad^2 A_\theta
-\inv{r^2}
A_\theta
-\inv{r^2 S_\theta^2} C_\theta^2 A_\theta
}
+
2 \phicap \lr{
\inv{r^2 S_\theta^2}
C_\theta \partial_\phi A_\theta
}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

Finally, we can compute the derivatives of the \( \phicap \) projection.

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:300}
\partial_r \lr{ r^2 \partial_r \lr{ \phicap \psi} }
=
\phicap \partial_r \lr{ r^2 \partial_r \psi }
\end{equation}

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:320}
\partial_\theta \lr{ S_\theta \partial_\theta \lr{ \phicap \psi } }
=
\phicap \partial_\theta \lr{ S_\theta \partial_\theta \psi }
\end{equation}

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:340}
\begin{aligned}
\partial_{\phi \phi} \lr{ \phicap \psi}
&=
\partial_{\phi} \lr{
(\partial_\phi \phicap) \psi
+\phicap \partial_\phi \psi
} \\
&=
\partial_{\phi} \lr{
(-\rcap S_\theta – \thetacap C_\theta) \psi
+\phicap \partial_\phi \psi
} \\
&=
-((\partial_\phi \rcap) S_\theta + (\partial_\phi \thetacap) C_\theta) \psi
-(\rcap S_\theta + \thetacap C_\theta) \partial_\phi \psi
+(\partial_\phi \phicap \partial_\phi \psi
+\phicap \partial_{\phi \phi} \psi \\
&=
-((S_\theta \phicap) S_\theta + (C_\theta \phicap) C_\theta) \psi
-(\rcap S_\theta + \thetacap C_\theta) \partial_\phi \psi
+(-\rcap S_\theta – \thetacap C_\theta) \partial_\phi \psi
+\phicap \partial_{\phi \phi} \psi \\
&=
– 2 \rcap S_\theta \partial_\phi \psi
– 2 \thetacap C_\theta \partial_\phi \psi
+ \phicap \lr{
\partial_{\phi \phi} \psi
-\psi
},
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

which gives
\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:380}
\begin{aligned}
\spacegrad^2 \lr{ \phicap A_\phi }
&=
-2 \rcap \inv{r^2 S_\theta} \partial_\phi A_\phi
-2 \thetacap \inv{r^2 S_\theta^2} C_\theta \partial_\phi A_\phi \\
&\quad +
\phicap \lr{
\inv{r^2}
\partial_r \lr{ r^2 \partial_r A_\phi }
+
\inv{r^2 S_\theta}
\partial_\theta \lr{ S_\theta \partial_\theta A_\phi }
+
\inv{r^2 S_\theta^2}
\lr{
\partial_{\phi \phi} A_\phi -A_\phi
}
} \\
&=
-2 \rcap \inv{r^2 S_\theta} \partial_\phi A_\phi
-2 \thetacap \inv{r^2 S_\theta^2} C_\theta \partial_\phi A_\phi
+
\phicap \lr{
\spacegrad^2 A_\phi – \inv{r^2} A_\phi
}.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

The vector Laplacian resolves into three augmented scalar wave equations, all highly coupled

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:420}
\boxed{
\begin{aligned}
\rcap \cdot \lr{ \spacegrad^2 \BA }
&=
\spacegrad^2 A_r
-\frac{2}{r^2 } A_r
– \frac{2}{r^2 S_\theta} \partial_\theta (S_\theta A_\theta)
– \frac{2}{r^2 S_\theta} \partial_\phi A_\phi \\
\thetacap \cdot \lr{ \spacegrad^2 \BA }
&=
\frac{1}{r^2} \frac{C_\theta}{S_\theta} A_r
+ \frac{2}{r^2} \partial_\theta A_r
– \frac{1}{r^2} C_\theta A_r
+ \spacegrad^2 A_\theta
– \inv{r^2} A_\theta
– \inv{r^2 S_\theta^2} C_\theta^2 A_\theta
-2 \inv{r^2 S_\theta^2} C_\theta \partial_\phi A_\phi \\
\phicap \cdot \lr{ \spacegrad^2 \BA }
&=
\frac{2}{r^2 S_\theta} \partial_\phi A_r
+ \frac{2}{r^2 S_\theta^2} C_\theta \partial_\phi A_\theta
+ \spacegrad^2 A_\phi – \inv{r^2} A_\phi.
\end{aligned}
}
\end{equation}

I’d guess one way to decouple these equations would be to impose a constraint that allows all the non-wave equation terms in one of the component equations to be killed, and then substitute that constraint into the remaining equations. Let’s try one such constraint

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:480}
A_r
=
– \inv{S_\theta} \partial_\theta (S_\theta A_\theta)
– \inv{S_\theta} \partial_\phi A_\phi.
\end{equation}

This gives

\begin{equation}\label{eqn:vectorWaveEquationSpherical:520}
\begin{aligned}
\rcap \cdot \lr{ \spacegrad^2 \BA }
&=
\spacegrad^2 A_r \\
\thetacap \cdot \lr{ \spacegrad^2 \BA }
&=
\lr{
\frac{1}{r^2} \frac{C_\theta}{S_\theta}
+ \frac{2}{r^2} \partial_\theta
– \frac{1}{r^2} C_\theta
}
\lr{
– \inv{S_\theta} \partial_\theta (S_\theta A_\theta)
– \inv{S_\theta} \partial_\phi A_\phi
} \\
&\quad+ \spacegrad^2 A_\theta
– \inv{r^2} A_\theta
– \inv{r^2 S_\theta^2} C_\theta^2 A_\theta
-\frac{2}{r^2 S_\theta^2} C_\theta \partial_\phi A_\phi \\
\phicap \cdot \lr{ \spacegrad^2 \BA }
&=
– \frac{2}{r^2 S_\theta} \partial_\phi
\lr{
\inv{S_\theta} \partial_\theta (S_\theta A_\theta)
+ \inv{S_\theta} \partial_\phi A_\phi
}
+ \frac{2}{r^2 S_\theta^2} C_\theta \partial_\phi A_\theta
+ \spacegrad^2 A_\phi – \inv{r^2} A_\phi \\
&=
-\frac{2}{r^2 S_\theta} \partial_\theta A_\theta
-\frac{2}{r^2 S_\theta^2} \partial_{\phi\phi} A_\theta
+ \spacegrad^2 A_\phi – \inv{r^2} A_\phi
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}

It looks like some additional cancellations may be had in the \( \thetacap \) projection of this constrained vector Laplacian. I’m not inclined to try to take this reduction any further without a thorough check of all the algebra (using Mathematica to do so would make sense).

I also guessing that such a solution might be how the \( \textrm{TE}^r \) and \( \textrm{TM}^r \) modes were defined, but that doesn’t appear to be the case according to [1]. There the wave equation is formulated in terms of the vector potentials (picking one to be zero and the other to be radial only). The solution obtained from such a potential wave equation then directly defines the \( \textrm{TE}^r \) and \( \textrm{TM}^r \) modes. It would be interesting to see how the modes derived in that analysis transform with application of the vector Laplacian derived above.

References

[1] Constantine A Balanis. Advanced engineering electromagnetics. Wiley New York, 1989.