Radiation from moving charges

Derive electromagnetic radiation using retarded fields, multipole expansions, angular distributions, and carefully delimited radiation-reaction models.

10 published lessons1 module320 min of guided study
  1. 01
    Radiation from moving chargesadvanced · 10 lessons

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Radiation from moving charges

Derive electromagnetic radiation using retarded fields, multipole expansions, angular distributions, and carefully delimited radiation-reaction models.

  1. 01

    Select causal solutions with retarded Green functions

    Derive retarded potentials in SI units and distinguish a causal boundary condition from the differential wave equation.

    32 min
  2. 02

    Retardation for a moving point charge

    Derive the moving-source Jacobian and evaluate the Liénard–Wiechert potentials at the correct emission event.

    32 min
  3. 03

    Separate bound fields from outgoing radiation

    Identify the inverse-square and inverse-distance parts of the point-charge field and test their large-sphere flux.

    32 min
  4. 04

    Normalize electric dipole radiation

    Derive the sin-squared pattern, its total power, and the distinction between peak and cycle-averaged radiation.

    32 min
  5. 05

    Continue beyond the electric dipole

    Use source symmetry and a controlled long-wavelength expansion to identify magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole emission.

    32 min
  6. 06

    Match radiation power to the kinematic regime

    Connect Larmor power to its relativistic extension and preserve the distinction between emission time and reception time.

    32 min
  7. 07

    Follow radiation from a relativistic bend

    Relate curvature, relativistic beaming, short received pulses, and the limits of classical synchrotron formulas.

    32 min
  8. 08

    Estimate radiation from a weak encounter

    Integrate Larmor power along an approximately straight Coulomb encounter while testing deflection, recoil, and energy-loss assumptions.

    32 min
  9. 09

    Balance momentum carried by radiation

    Compute vacuum radiation pressure from incoming and outgoing momentum, including absorption, reflection, transmission, and finite pulses.

    32 min
  10. 10

    Use radiation reaction as a controlled approximation

    Diagnose runaway solutions and derive a weak reduced-order self-force while keeping near-field energy in the balance.

    32 min
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