2020 Faculty Courses School of Science Undergraduate major in Physics
Electromagnetism II (Lecture)
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Physics
- Instructor(s)
- Yusuke Nishida
- Class Format
- Lecture (Zoom)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Tue (W242) / 5-6 Fri (W242)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- PHY.E212
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2020
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course deals with advanced topics in electromagnetism. Based on the Maxwell equations, I discuss their solution in vacuum, propagation, radiation and scattering of electromagnetic waves. I also discuss special relativity and manifest Lorentz covariant formulation of electrodynamics. The relativistic motion of a charged particle in an electromagnetic field and radiation from an accelerated charged particle are explained.
Physics of electromagnetic fields is a foundation of physics and modern technology. The principle of relativity and fields are important subjects which play an important role in understanding modern physics. The aim of this course is to get basic concepts in electrodynamics and apply them to various problems starting from the Maxwell equations.
Course description and aims
You will be able to understand the basics and applications of the Maxwell equations by many examples. Especially an
electromagnetic wave in vacuum, and its propagation, radiation and scattering are mainly focused on. You will also understand how special relativity is important in electrodynamics. You will also be able to understand the motion of a charged particle and radiation from an accelerated source.
Keywords
Maxwell equation, electromagnetic wave, propagaton, radiation, scattering, theory of special relativity
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Explain basic concepts by use of blackboard.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | propagation of electromagnetic wave, plane wave solutions of electric magnetic fields, polarization, and Helmholtz equations and boundary conditions | Understand plane wave solution of the electromagnetic wave in space and its polarization, general propagation, Helmholtz equations and boundary conditions of fields |
| Class 2 | Wave guide, TE wave, TM wave, TEM wave, phase velocity and group velocity | Understand propagation of electromagnetic wave through the wave guide |
| Class 3 | Diffraction of electromagnetic wave, Fresnel‒Kirhihoff'S formula, Fraunhofer difraction, Fresnel diffraction | Understand diffraction phenomena of electromagnetic wave from the wave equation |
| Class 4 | Electromegnetic potential and gauge transformation, Coulomb gauge and Lorenz gauge | Understand the Maxwell equation using electromegnetic potentials |
| Class 5 | radiation from sources, Green functions for the Helmholtz equations | Understand the radiation of electromagnetic fields by solving the Helmholtz equation via the Green function method |
| Class 6 | electric dipole and magnetic dipole radiations | Understand dipole radiations as examples of radiations |
| Class 7 | special relativity theory, Lorentz transformation and relativistic mechanics | Understand basic concepts of special relativity |
| Class 8 | covariant formulation of electromagnetic fields | Understand manifestly Lorentz covariant form of the Maxwell equations |
| Class 9 | relativistic mechanics of charged particle in electromagnetic fields | Understand relativistic mechanics of a relativistic charged particle |
| Class 10 | variational principle and equation for electromagnetic fields | Derive the Maxwell equations from the variational principle |
| Class 11 | Canonical formalism of electromagnetic fields | Understand canonical formalism and conservation laws of electromagnetic fields |
| Class 12 | Radiation from accelerated charged particle and Lienard‒Wiechert potential | Understand radiation from accelerated charged particle |
| Class 13 | Bremsstrahlung and Cynclotron radiation | Understand some examples of radiation from a accelerated charged particle |
| Class 14 | scattering of electromagnetic waves by a charged particle | Understand scattering of electromagnetic waves by a charged particle |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Lecture notes will be distributed via OCW-i.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Shigenobu Sunagawa, Theory of Electromangetism, Kinokuniya Shoten (Japanese)
Makoto Oka, classical theory of electromagnetic fields, Baifukan (Japanese)
Landau and Lifshitz, Classical Theory of Fields, Pergamon
J.D. Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics, Wiley
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students will be assessed on their understanding of basis ideas and applications in electrodynamics. The scores are based on the final exams.
Related courses
- PHY.E205 ： Electromagnetism
- PHY.E310 ： Electromagnetism III
Prerequisites
None.