Registry

Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2012 - 2013
Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	Electrodynamics
Module Code	PS412
School	School of Physical Sciences
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Semester 1: Lampros Nikolopoulos Semester 2: Lampros Nikolopoulos Autumn: Lampros Nikolopoulos
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

The aim of the course is to develop a knowledge and understanding of a wide range of electromagnetic wave phenomena by solving, with appropriate physical insight, Maxwell's equations in particular circumstances, e.g. dielectrics, conducting media, waveguides, antenna behaviour, The module will also introduce radiation and radiating systems and study the dynamics of charged particles in electromagnetic fields.

Learning Outcomes

1. State and manipulate Maxwell's and Fresnel's equations.
2. Solve Maxwell's equations to find plane wave solutions in vacuum, isotropic dielectrics, conducting media, planar, rectangular and cylindrical waveguides.
3. Calculate the electromagnetic radiation from localised charges which move arbitrarily in time and space, taking into account retardation effects and account for the underlying approximations and assumptions.
4. Calculate the scattering of electromagnetic radiation by atoms and molecules. Explain the physics of Thompson and Rayleigh scattering.
5. Use the techniques of electromagnetism and vector analysis to solve numerical problems.
6. The student will have an awareness of ethical issues in relation to plagiarism

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Lecture	24	No Description
Assignment	5	No Description
Independent learning	3	No Description
Tutorial	6	No Description
Total Workload: 38

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Mathematics revision.
Vector calculus, Stokes Theorem, Green's Theorem, Cartesian, Spherical and Cylindrical coordinate systems.

Electromagnetism Revision.
review of electrostatics, magnetostatics, Faraday's law, Ampere's Law. Derivation of Maxwell's equations in differential and integral form..

Solutions of Maxwell's equations:.
The wave equation, electromagnetic waves in vacuum, plasmas, dielectric, and conducting media. Fresnel Equations, Polarisation. Absorption and Dispersion of radiation..

Waveguides.
Solution of maxwell's equations in planar, rectangular and cylindrical waveguides and resonant cavities.

Radiation.
Potentials, and gauge transformations, Retarded potentials. Fields from random distributions of currents and charges. Electric and magnetic multipole radiation.Brehmsstrahlung, cyclotron and synchrotron radiation.Thompson and Rayleigh Scattering.

Relativistic Electrodynamics.
Relativistic kinematics. Covariant formulation of electrodynamics. Liénard-WiechertÂ´s potentials.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	20%	Examination Weight	80%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Oral presentations	Take Home Problem Sets	20%	Every Second Week

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 3

Indicative Reading List

David J. Griffiths: 1999, Introduction to Electrodynamics, Prentice Hall, 013805326X.
J.B. Marion and M.A. Heald: 0, Classical electromagnetic radiation, Academic Press,
I.S. Grant and W.R. Phillips: 0, Electromagnetism, John Wiley and Sons, 0471927120
R.H.Good: 1999, Classical Electromagnetism, Saunders College Publishing, 0030223539
J.D. Jackson: 1998, Classical Electrodynamics, John Wiley and Sons, 0-471-30932-X
Feynman, Leighton & Sands: 0, The Feynman Lectures on Physics Vol. 2,
Lorrain and Corson: 0, Electromagnetic Fields and Waves,

Other Resources

None

Array

Programme or List of Programmes

BSc in Applied Physics

BSc in Physics with German

PHA

BSc in Physics with Astronomy

Timetable this semester: Timetable for PS412

Date of Last Revision

04-SEP-08

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