FY549: Electrodynamics

Kurset har til formål at introducere elektrodynamik inklusiv vektor kalkulus og den relativistiske formulering af elektrodynamikken. The course introduces electrodynamics including vector calculus and the relativistic formulation of electrodynamics.  

Kurset bygger oven på den viden, der er erhvervet i kurserne i første år, specielt FT504, og giver et fagligt grundlag for at studere emnerne speciel relativitetsteori, generel relativitetsteori, klassisk feltteori og kvantefeltteori, der er placeret senere i uddannelsen. Desuden er elektromagnetismen grundlaget for observationel astronomi. 

 The course builds on the knowledge gained in the courses in the first year, particularly FT504, and provides a professional basis for studying the subjects special relativity, general relativity, classical and quantum field theory, which are located later in the program.Furthermore electromagnetism is the foundation of observational astronomy. 

In relation to the competence profile of the degree it is the explicit focus of the course to:

The overall goal of the course is that the students gain a thorough understanding of electrodynamics and are able to formulate themselves physically and mathematically about electrodynamic phenomena. More specifically, students are expected to be able to:

• Be able to apply and solve Maxwell's equations for relevant physical problems.

• Calculate energy flows by the Poynting vector.

• Know the wave equation and its solutions and be able to describe the reflection and transmission of waves at an interface.

• Describe electromagnetic waves.

• Apply the potential formulation of electrodynamics.

• Calculate radiation fields from electric and magnetic dipoles.

• Calculate electromagnetic fields from moving charges.

• Lorentz transformers between electric and magnetic fields.

• Vector algebra and relativistic 4 vector formulation of electrodynamics.

• Describe signal propagation in cables.

• Establish and resolve Kirchhoff's laws for simple electrical circuits. Below, they must be able to find the transient behavior of a circuit, and solve the alternating current circuit by complex impedances

• Use mathematical terminology and symbol language in solving solutions and be able to diagnose own errors.

• Formulate clear arguments for the connections and consequences of the course content clearly and unambiguously.

The course builds on Electromagnetism and Optics (FT504). Where the FT504 was primarily about drawing up the basic laws of nature and applying them to static situations, we go into FY549 in depth with Maxwell's equations and a number of their physical consequences such as electromagnetic waves, electrodynamics, which are about moving charges and the associated time-dependent electromagnetic fields, relativistic electrodynamics in 4-vector notation, Lagrange formulation and gauge symmetry.

Key topics in the course will be 

• Maxwells equations.  

•Poynting vector.

• Electromagnetic waves, reflection and transmission of waves at an interface.

• The potential formulation of electrodynamics.

• Radiation fields from electric and magnetic dipoles.

• Electromagnetic fields from moving charges.

• Vector algebra and relativistic electrodynamics.

• Lagrange formulation and gauge symmetry of electromagnetism

• Kirchhoff's laws for electrical circuits, alternating current circuits and complex impedances

The teaching method is based on three phase model.

The teaching method is an interactive lecture on the blackboard, together with tutorials in which a central aim is to develop the students’ conceptual understanding further and develops calculational skills by solving exercises.