Electromagnetism and radiation

Connect Maxwell's equations, boundary conditions, radiation, material response, and gauge-invariant electromagnetic observables.

10 published lessons1 module361 min of guided study
  1. 01
    Electromagnetism and radiationcore · 10 lessons

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Electromagnetism and radiation

Connect Maxwell's equations, boundary conditions, radiation, material response, and gauge-invariant electromagnetic observables.

  1. 01

    Electrostatic potentials and boundary conditions

    Solve a field problem by specifying its charges and boundaries, and understand why a valid solution is unique.

    32 min
  2. 02

    Gauss's law and multipole expansion

    Separate exact flux constraints from symmetry arguments and estimate distant fields with controlled multipole approximations.

    34 min
  3. 03

    Magnetostatics and vector potential

    Connect steady currents, magnetic circulation, flux, and the nonuniqueness of a vector potential.

    34 min
  4. 04

    Maxwell equations and local conservation

    Explain displacement current and track charge and energy through a finite region without losing their boundary fluxes.

    35 min
  5. 05

    Electromagnetic waves and polarization

    Build a transverse plane wave, distinguish its polarization from propagation, and calculate its time-averaged intensity.

    34 min
  6. 06

    Interfaces and Fresnel coefficients

    Derive reflected and transmitted amplitudes from boundary conditions and distinguish amplitude ratios from power fractions.

    36 min
  7. 07

    Waveguides and cavity modes

    Use conductor boundary conditions to select modes, calculate cutoff, and separate phase velocity from energy transport.

    38 min
  8. 08

    Retarded potentials and radiation

    Use causal source times, distinguish near fields from radiation, and estimate the power emitted by a small oscillating dipole.

    39 min
  9. 09

    Dispersion and causal response

    Connect a material's frequency-dependent polarization to delayed response, absorption, and the limits of pulse-velocity language.

    40 min
  10. 10

    Gauge invariance and electromagnetic stress

    Keep observable fields invariant under potential changes and calculate mechanical momentum transfer from electromagnetic stress.

    39 min
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