Physics Examples
and other Pedagogic Diversions
by K. McDonald

See Links at end.
Ph101 Laboratory Manuals.
Ph104 Laboratory Manuals.
Ph304, Electrodynamics, problem sets.
Ph410, Physics of Quantum Computation, problem sets.
Ph206/501, Electrodynamics, problem sets.
Ph501 course page.
Ph406, Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, problem sets.
Archive of papers on Mechanics.
Archive of papers on E&M.
Archive of papers on Fluid Dynamics.
Archive of papers on Optics.
Archive of papers on Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Information.
Archive of papers on Elementary Particle Physics.
Archive of papers on Particle Accelerators.
Archive of papers on Detectors for Elementary Particles.
Several of the papers below are also available at the LANL preprint arXiv.

The Helmholtz Decomposition and the Coulomb Gauge (Apr 17, 2008). .ps version.
Static-Voltage Gauge (Mar 25, 2008). .ps version.
What Does an AC Voltmeter Measure? (Mar 16, 2008). .ps version.
Velocity Factor of an Insulated Two-Wire Transmission Line, (Mar 7, 2008). .ps version. .xls velocity factor calculator.
Electron Trajectories in a Hall Thruster, (Feb 27, 2008). .ps version.
Exact and Geometrical-Optics Energy Trajectories in Twisted Beams, with Michael Berry (Jan 15, 2008). J. Opt. A 10, 03005 (2008).
Flow of Energy from a Localized Source in a Uniform, Anisotropic Medium, (Dec 8, 2007). .ps version.
Radiation from Hertzian Dipoles in a Uniaxial Anisotropic Medium, (Nov 16, 2007). .ps version.
Relativity of Steady Energy Flow, (Nov 3, 2007). .ps version.
"Hidden" Momentum in a Sound Wave, (Oct 31, 2007). .ps version.
Energy Flow in a Moving Bimetallic Strip, (Oct 28, 2007). .ps version.
Energy, Momentum and Stress in a Belt Drive, (Oct 20, 2007). .ps version.
Currents in a Center-Fed Linear Dipole Antenna, (June 27, 2007). .ps version.
Voltage Across the Terminals of a Receiving Antenna, (June 25, 2007). .ps version.
Electric Guitar Pickups, (May 6, 2007). .ps version.
Torque Analyses of a Sliding Ladder, (May 6, 2007). .ps version.
Flow of Energy and Momentum in a the Near Zone of a Hertizan Dipole, (Apr 11, 2007). .ps version.
Flow of Energy and Momentum in a Coaxial Cable, (Mar 31, 2007). .ps version.
Space Charge in Ionization Detectors, with S. Palestini (Mar 25, 2007). .ps version.
Path Length of Muons Traversing an Arbitrary Volume, with H. Jostlein (Mar 24, 2007). .ps version.
The Fields of a Pulsed, Small Dipole Antenna, (Mar 16, 2007). .ps version.
Where Does the Power Become AC in an AC Power Source?, (Feb 27, 2007). .ps version. [Help needed to explain the missing factor of 2 in eq.(16).]
Permeable Shell in a Uniform External Field, (Feb 24, 2007). .ps version.
Stabilization of Insect Flight via Sensors of Coriolis Force, (Feb 17, 2007). .ps version.
Galilean Transformation of Wave Velocity, with J.L. Junquera (Jan 14, 2007). .ps version.
Hexagonal Pencil Rolling on an Inclined Plane (Nov 14, 2006). .ps version.
Path of Minimum Radiation, Bruce Winstein (U. Chicago, Oct 2, 2006).
"Crossed-Field" and "EH" Antennas Including Radiation from the Feed Lines and Reflection from the Earth's Surface (July 4, 2006). .ps version.
Electromagnetic Momentum of a Capacitor in a Uniform Magnetic Field (June 18, 2006). .ps version.
Cullwick's Paradox: Charged Particle on the Axis of a Toroidal Magnet (June 4, 2006). .ps version.
Momentum in a DC Circuit (May 26, 2006). .ps version.
McKenna's Paradox: Charged Particle Exiting the Side of a Solenoid Magnet (Apr 12, 2006). .ps version.
Reflections of a (Skeptical) Experimental High-Energy Physicist after Teaching a Course on Quantum Computation (Feb 24, 2006).
Currents in a Conducting Sheet with a Hole (Feb 22, 2006). .ps version.
Some Properties of Sourceless Wave Packets (Feb 10, 2006). .ps version.
The Radiation Reaction Force and the Radiation Resistance of Small Antennas (Jan 21, 2006). .ps version.
Onoochin's Paradox (Jan 1, 2006). .ps version.
Can a "Hidden-Variable" Quantum Theory Evade the "No-Cloning" Theorem? (Oct 6, 2005). .ps version.
Impedance Matching of Transmission Lines (July 20, 2005). .ps version.
Accuracy of Measurements of a CP-Violating Asymmetry (Mar 25, 2005). .ps version.
Classical Lifetime of a Bohr Atom, with J.D. Olsen (Mar 7, 2005). .ps version.
Letter to the Editor (Feb. 2, 2005) regarding Einstein's boxes, by T. Norsen, Am. J. Phys. 73, 164 (2005).
Radiation from an AC Voltage Source (Jan 9, 2005). .ps version.
Can an Antenna Be Cut Into Pieces (Without Affecting Its Radiation)?, with D.J. Jefferies (Nov 10, 2004). .ps version. A 10-frame animation of the near electric field of a 3 λ / 2 dipole antenna.
Maxwell's Demon (Oct 3, 2004). .ps version.
Scattering of a Plane Wave by a Small Conducting Sphere, (July 13, 2004). .ps version.
Radiation in the Near Zone of a Center-Fed Linear Antenna, (June 21, 2004). .ps version.
Radiation in the Near Zone of a Short, Center-Fed Biconical Antenna, (June 14, 2004). .ps version.
Radiation in the Near Zone of a Small Loop Antenna, (June 7, 2004), with an Appendix on Hertz vectors. .ps version.
A Paradox Concerning the Energy of A Dipole in a Uniform External Field, with J. Castro (May 3, 2004). .ps version.
Radiation in the Near Zone of a Hertzian Dipole, (Apr 22, 2004). .ps version.
How to Fry an IGCT in 1 μs or Less, (Apr 17, 2004). .ps version.
Radial Dependence of Radiation from a Bounded Source, (Jan 25, 2004). .ps version.
Synchrotron-Cerenkov Radiation, Letters to Science, vol. 303, p. 310 (2004). Money Spinner or Loopy Idea, Edwin Cartlidge, Science, 301, 1463 (2003).
Small Fractal Antennas, (Dec 22, 2003). .ps version.
A Neutrino Horn Based on a Solenoid Lens, (Dec 1, 2003). .ps version.
Magnetic Field in a Time-Dependent Capacitor, (Oct 30, 2003). .ps version.
Bunching of Photons When Two Beams Pass Through a Beam Splitter, with L.J. Wang (Aug 17, 2003). .ps version.
Hertzian Dipole Radiation via the Weizsäcker-Williams Method, with M.S. Zolotorev (Aug 4, 2003). .ps version.
Using Conformal Maps to Explore the Potential of Wire Grids, by T. Dimofte (July 28, 2003). .ps version.
A Parallelogram Loop Antenna, (May 28, 2003). .ps version.
Isotropic Radiators, with Haim Matzner (Apr. 8, 2003). .ps version.
The Barnett Experiment with a Rotating Solenoid Magnet, (Apr. 6, 2003). .ps version.
Electromagnetic Fields of a Rotating Shell of Charge, (Apr. 3, 2003). .ps version.
Notes on Electrostatic Wire Grids, (Mar. 5, 2003). .ps version.
A Magnetic Linear Accelerator, (Mar. 3, 2003). .ps version.
Capacitance of a Thin Conducting Disk and of Conducting Spheroids, (Feb. 25, 2003). .ps version.
Volume and Surface Area of an N-Sphere, (Feb. 4, 2003). .ps version.
Gaussian Laser Beams via Oblate Spheroidal Waves, (Oct. 19, 2002).
The Electric Potential of Particle Detectors with Rectangular Cross-Section, with C. Lu (Oct. 9, 2002). .ps version.
Conducting Ellipsoid and Circular Disk, (Sept. 21, 2002). .ps version.
Conducting Spherical Shell with a Circular Orifice, (Sept. 21, 2002). .ps version.
Two Conducting Spheres at the Same Potential, (Sept. 19, 2002). .ps version.
Magnetostatic Spin Waves, (Sept. 15, 2002). .ps version.
An Electrostatic Wave, (July 28, 2002). .ps version.
A Capacitor Paradox, (July 10, 2002). .ps version.
Fluid Flow Velocity at a Wall, Alex McDonald (June 24, 2002). .ps version.
Green's Function for a Conducting Plane with a Hemispherical Boss (Apr. 23, 2002). .ps version.
Electromagnetic Field Energy (Apr. 3, 2002). .ps version.
"Hidden" Momentum in a Coaxial Cable (Mar. 28, 2002). .ps version.
Methods of Calculating Forces on Rigid Magnetic Media (Mar. 18, 2002).
Magnetic Force on a Permeable Wire (Mar. 17, 2002). .ps version.
Maximal Gravity at the Surface of an Asteroid (Feb. 18, 2002). .ps version.
Accessing Phases of CKM Matrix Elements Via the Decay B^0_d -> pi+ pi- (Dec. 18, 2001). .ps version.
Maximum Energy of Circular Colliders, with Chris Tully (Dec. 10, 2001). .ps version.
A Slingshot Orbit (Nov. 18, 2001). .ps version.
Diamagnetic Levitation, with Bob Austin (Nov. 15, 2001). .ps version, .mpg movie of a flying frog. Floating gold in cryogenic oxygen.
An Off-Axis Neutrino Beam (Nov. 6, 2001). .ps version.
3 x 3 Magic Squares with Duplicate Digits Allowed, with Nancy Schaefer (Oct 13, 2001). .ps version.
Leaky Capacitors, with T.J. Maloney (Oct 17, 2001; updated May 5, 2008). .ps version.
Vertical Oscillations of a Hanging Cable (Oct 7, 2001). .ps version.
A Conducting Checkerboard (Oct 4, 2001). .ps version.
Diople in Shell (Oct 2, 2001). .ps version.
Small Oscillations of a Suspended Hoop, with Alex McDonald (Oct 1, 2001). .ps version.
Uncertainties in the Measurement of the Momentum and Position of an Electron (Sept 20, 2001). .ps version.
Self Trapping of Optical Beams (Apr 15, 2001). .ps version.
The Rolling Motion of a Disk on a Horizontal Plane, with Alex McDonald (Mar 28, 2001). .ps version.
To Construct a Square with Edges on Any Four Points, with Owen Schaefer (Feb 11, 2001). .ps version.
A Josephson Junction (Dec 5, 2000; some work needed to clean this one up). .ps version.
A Flapping Toy (Nov 30, 2000). .ps version.
Some Mechanics of Toys (Nov 29, 2000). .ps version.
The Maximum Energy Attainable in a Betatron (Nov 19, 2000). .ps version.
Electron Bubbles in Liquid Helium (Nov 12, 2000). .ps version. See also, Nevis Summer Workshop on Electron Bubble Particle Detectors.
Motion on a Torus (Oct 21, 2000). .ps version.
Free Precession (Aug 10, 2000). .ps version.
Negative Group Velocity (July 23, 2000). Am. J. Phys. 69, 607 (2001). .ps version.
Radial Viscous Flow between Two Parallel Annular Plates (June 23, 2000). .ps version.
Bessel Beams (June 17, 2000). .ps version.
Maximum Height of Mud Thrown from a Wheel, Alex McDonald (May 28, 2000). .ps version.
Euler's disk and its finite time singularity, by H.K. Moffatt, Nature 404, 833 (Apr 20, 2000). A comment by A. Ruina (June 2000).
Further comments, Nature 408, 540 (Nov 30, 2000).
Polarization Dependence of Emissivity, with D. Strozzi (Apr 3, 2000). .ps version.
Resistance of a Disk (Mar 31, 2000). .ps version.
Axicon Gaussian Laser Beams (Mar 14, 2000), .ps version. .pdf version with high-res figures. Transparencies with high-res figures.
Complex Functions and Electrostatics, (Feb 28, 2000). .ps version.
An Off-Center "Coaxial" Cable, (Nov 21, 1999). .ps version.
A Phased Antenna Array, by Dan Marlow (Nov 11, 1999). .ps version.
A Maxwellian Perspective on Particle Acceleration, with Max Zolotorev (updated Sep 7, 1999), .ps version.
Time-Reversed Diffraction, with Max Zolotorev (Sep 5, 1999). .ps version.
Classical Radiation Processes in the Weizsäcker-Williams Approximation, with Max Zolotorev (Aug 25, 1999). .ps version.
A Bounded Source Can't Emit a Unipolar Electromagnetic Pulse, with Kwang-Je Kim, Gennady Stupakov and Max Zolotorev (May 1, 1999). .ps version.
Slow Light (Apr 3, 1999); Am. J. Phys. 68, 293 (2000). .ps version.
Draft: Measurement of Pulsewidth via Correlations in Intensity Fluctuations, with Max Zolotorev (Mar 23, 1999). .ps version.
Diffraction as a Consequence of Faraday's Law, with Max Zolotorev (Jan 11, 1999); Am. J. Phys. 68, 674 (2000). .ps version.
A Mechanical Model that Exhibits a Gravitational Critical Radius (Dec 2, 1998). Am. J. Phys. 69, 617 (2001). .ps version.
Magnetars (Nov 29, 1998); Am. J. Phys. 68, 775 (2000). .ps version.
The Transverse Momentum of an Electron in a Wave (Nov 15, 1998). .ps version.
Nobel Sonoluminescence (Nov 14, 1998); Popular Science, Feb. 1999, p. 8. .ps version.
Laser Tweezers (Nov 13, 1998), Am. J. Phys. 68, 486 (2000). .ps version.
Canonical Angular Momentum of a Solenoid Field (Nov 13, 1998). .ps version.
The Charge Distribution on the Cathode of a Straw Tube Chamber, with C. Lu (Oct 1, 1998). .ps version.
The Fields in a Box with Resistive Walls, (Apr 16, 1998). .ps version.
The Rare Decay K_L -> pi0 nu nubar, with Dan Marlow (Apr 16, 1998). .ps version.
Classical "Dressing" of a Free Electron in a Plane Electromagnetic Wave, with K. Shmakov (Feb 28, 1998). .ps version.
The Weizsäcker-Williams Approximation to Trident Production in Electron-Photon Collisions, with C. Bula (Feb 28, 1998). .ps version.
Energy Balance in an Electrostatic Accelerator, with Max Zolotorev (Feb 1, 1998) .ps version.
A Relativistic Electron Can't Extract Net Energy from a `Long' Laser Pulse, (Aug 22, 1997). .ps version.
Physics in the Laundromat (Aug 5, 1997); Am. J. Phys. 66, 209 (1998). .ps version.
Limits on the Applicability of Classical Electromagmetic Fields as Inferred from the Radiation Reaction, (May 12, 1997; updated Jan. 29, 1998). .ps version.
The Levitron (Apr 4, 1997). .ps version.
The Fractal Dimension of a Ball of Aluminum Foil (Mar 6, 1997). .ps version.
The Flyball Governor, by Dan Marlow (Mar 5, 1997). .ps version.
The Radiofrequency Quadrupole (Feb 27, 1997). .ps version.
Notes on Synchrotron Radiation (Feb 11, 1997). .ps version.
Pitching Pennies into a Magnet (Jan 15, 1997). .ps version.
The Fields Outside a Solenoid with a Time-Dependent Current (Dec 6, 1996); Am. J. Phys. 65, 1176 (1997). .ps version.
The Relation between Expressions for Time-Dependent Electromagnetic Fields given by Jefimenko and by Panofsky and Phillips (Dec 5, 1996); Am. J. Phys. 65, 1074 (1997). .ps version.
Vector Gravity (Dec 4, 1996); Am. J. Phys. 65, 591 (1997). .ps version.
Group Velocity (Dec 4, 1996); Am. J. Phys. 66, 656 (1998). .ps version.
The Electromagnetic Fields Outside a Wire That Carries a Linearly Rising Current (Nov 28, 1996). .ps version.
The Rolling Motion of a Half-Full Beer Can (Nov 14, 1996). .ps version.
Distortionless Transmission Line (Nov 11, 1996). .ps version.
Hyperdeuterons (Apr 22, 1996). .ps version.
Noncontact Measurement of the Tension of a Wire, with Mark Convery (Apr 14, 1996). .ps version.
Motion of a Point Charge Near an Electric Dipole (Mar 19, 1996). .ps version.
Can an Electron Be at Rest? (Aug 30, 1995); Am. J. Phys. 64, 1098 (1996). .ps version.
Electromagnetic Field Momentum (Aug 30, 1995); Am. J. Phys. 64, 15 (1996). .ps version.
Accelerating Fluids (May 4, 1995); Science 268, 1261 (1995). .ps version.
Single-Bubble Sonoluminescence, (Feb 2, 1995). .ps version.
Levitating Beachballs (Dec 6, 1994); Am. J. Phys. 68, 388 (2000). .ps version.
The Geostrophic Wind, by Will Happer (Dec 9, 1993). .ps version.
Circular Orbits Inside the Sphere of Death (Nov 8, 1993); Am. J. Phys. 66, 419 (1998). .ps version. Video clips of Bela Tabak's Thunderdome.
Six Ways to Measure CP-Violating Phases in B Decays (Sep 20, 1992) .ps version.
Maximum Likelihood Analysis of CP-Violating Asymmetries (Sep 4, 1992) .ps version.
Motion of a Leaky Tank Car (Dec 4, 1989); Am. J. Phys. 59, 830 (1990). .ps version.
Right and Wrong Use of the Lenz Vector for Non-Newtonian Potentials, with C. Farina and A. Tort (May 23, 1989); Am. J. Phys. 58, 540 (1990). .ps version.
An RF Cavity in Which Transverse Fields Grow Linearly with Radius (Mar 24, 1988). .ps version.
The Hawking-Unruh Temperature and Quantum Fluctuations in Particle Accelerators, (72kB, Mar. 9, 1987). Published in the Proceedings of the 1987 IEEE Particle Accelerator Conference, E.R. Lindstrom and L.S. Taylor, eds., (Mar 16-19, 1987, Washington, D.C.). .ps version.
Radiation from a Superluminal Source (Nov 26, 1986); Am. J. Phys. 65, 1076 (1997). .ps version.
The Helical Wiggler, with H. Mitter, (Oct 12, 1986). .ps version.
The Laser Driven Vacuum Photodiode (Sep 26, 1986). .ps version.
The Grating Accelerator (Sep 14, 1984). .ps version.
Stress and Momentum in a Capacitor That Moves with Constant Velocity (Apr 21, 1984; updated Oct 4, 2007). .ps version.
Feynman Cylinder Paradox, with John Belcher (1983; updated Apr 2002). .ps version.
The Guard Ring of a Streamer Chamber (Oct 1, 1983). .ps version.
The Amp Clamp (Apr 19, 1983). .ps version.
Transparencies from a colloquium: Does Quantum Mechanics Require Superluminal Connections? (Dec 3, 1981). The answer is NO!
Cerenkov Radiation in a Dielectric Wave Guide (Sep 30, 1979). .ps version.
Self-Induced Transparency (May 3, 1979). .ps version.
Wave Amplification in a Magnetic Medium (May 1, 1979). .ps version.
The Force on an Antenna Array (May 1, 1979; updated Oct 8, 2007). .ps version.
Electron Trajectories in a Vacuum Coaxial Cable (April 17, 1979). Comment about Lorentz force accelerators (MPD's) added Feb. 2008. .ps version.
Neutral Pion Decay (Sep 15, 1976). .ps version.
Polarization Precession (Jan 14, 1970). .ps version.
Floating Wire Simulation of the Trajectory of a Charged Particle in a Magnetic Field (Sep 1, 1969). .ps version.

Ph101 Laboratory Manual, Fall 2007.

Ph101 Laboratory Manual, Fall 1996:
Introduction to Ph101 Laboratory.
Lab 1, Precision Estimates.
Lab 2, Newton's First and Second Laws for Linear Motion.
Lab 3, Motion in Two Dimensions.
Lab 4, The Behavior of a Simple Pendulum and a Precision Measurement of g.
Lab 5, The Physics of Rotating Bodies.
Lab 6, The Physics of Springs.
Lab 7, Physics in Collision.
Lab 8, Friction in Fluids.

Ph104 Laboratory Manuals. Spring 2004.
Ph104 Laboratory Manual Introduction.
Lab 1, Exploring Electrostatics with an Electroscope.
Lab 2, More Studies with an Electroscope.
Lab 3, Resistors, Capacitors, DC Circuits, and RC Circuits.
Lab 4, e/m of the Electron, Measurement of μ0.
Lab 5, Make and Test a Motor.
Lab 6, Oscilloscope, Signal Generator and Filters.
Lab 7, RLC Circuits.
Lab 8, Geometrical Optics, Optical Instruments.
Lab 9, Physical Optics: Interference and Diffraction.
Lab 10, Diode Rectifier and Transistor AC Amplifier.
Lab 11, AM Radio.
Instructions for Laboratory Instructors.

Ph304, Electrodynamics, Problem Sets. MKSA units are employed.

Set 1, .ps version.
Set 2, .ps version.
Set 3, .ps version.
Set 4, .ps version.
Set 5, .ps version.
Set 6, .ps version.
Set 7, .ps version.
Set 8, .ps version.
Set 9, .ps version.
Set 10, .ps version.
Set 11, .ps version.
Set 12, .ps version.
Midterm exam, 2002, .ps version.
Midterm exam, 2003, .ps version.
Final exam, 2002, .ps version.
Final exam, 2003, .ps version.

Ph410, Physics of Quantum Computation.

Course advertisement.

Text/reference for the course is M.A. Nielsen and I.L. Chuang, Quantum Computation and Quantum Information (Cambridge U.P., 2000).

A compendium of research papers relevant to the course.

Ph410 Problems.

Ph206/501, Electrodynamics, Lectures and Problem Sets.

In my opinion, the Graduate Preliminary Exam should cover the material of Lectures 1-16 (problem sets 1-8), while that of lectures 17-26 (sets 9-12) goes beyond the core minimum. Gaussian units are employed.

Lecture 1, Overview of Maxwell's Equations; Electrostatics.
Additional examples:
Motion of a Point Charge Near an Electric Dipole.
On the Nature of the Molecular Forces which regulate the Constitution of the Luminferous Ether, S. Earnshaw, Trans. Camb. Phil. Soc. 7, 97 (1839).
Lecture 2, Conductors and Dielectrics.
Lecture 3, Electrostatic Energy, Maxwell Stress Tensor.
Additional examples:
A Paradox Concerning the Energy of A Dipole in a Uniform External Field,
Energy Balance in an Electrostatic Accelerator.
Lecture 4, Potential Theory: Image Methods, 2-D Problems with Rectangular Boundaries.
Additional examples:
Green's Function for a Conducting Plane with a Hemispherical Boss,
Two Conducting Spheres at the Same Potential,
Notes on Electrostatic Wire Grids.
Lecture 5, Potential Theory: 2-D Problems with Cylindrical and Spherical Boundaries.
Additional examples:
The Guard Ring of a Streamer Chamber,
A Conducting Checkerboard.
Lecture 6, Potential Theory: 3-D Problems with Cylindrical Boundaries; Conducting Needles, Spheroids, Disks; Use of Conjugate Functions.
Additonal examples:
Capacitance of a Thin Conducting Disk and of Conducting Spheroids,
Conducting Ellipsoid and Circular Disk,
Conducting Spherical Shell with a Circular Orifice,
Using Conformal Maps to Explore the Potential of Wire Grids.
Lecture 7, Steady Currents; Magnetostatics.
Additional examples:
Currents in a Conducting Sheet with a Hole.
Resistance of a Disk,
The Laser Driven Vacuum Photodiode,
Floating Wire Simulation of the Trajectory of a Charged Particle in a Magnetic Field,
The Helical Wiggler.
Lecture 8, Sources of the Magnetic field; Magnetic Materials.
Additional examples:
Magnetic Field in a Time-Dependent Capacitor,
Methods of Calculating Forces on Rigid Magnetic Media,
Diamagnetic Levitation,
The Levitron.
Lecture 9, Faraday's Law.
Additional examples:
Pitching Pennies into a Magnet,
The Amp Clamp,
Noncontact Measurement of the Tension of a Wire,
Electromagnetic Fields of a Rotating Shell of Charge,
The Barnett Experiment with a Rotating Solenoid Magnet.
Lecture 10, Electromagnetic Energy, Momentum and Angular Momentum; Inductance.
Additional examples:
On the Transfer of Energy in the Electromagnetic Field, J.H. Poynting, Phil. Mag. 175, 343 (1884),
Hidden Momentum in a Coaxial Cable,
Electromagnetic Field Energy,
Feynman Cylinder Paradox,
Canonical Angular Momentum of a Solenoid Field,
A Neutrino Horn Based on a Solenoid Lens.
McKenna's Paradox: Charged Particle Exiting the Side of A Solenoid Magnet.
Lecture 11, Introduction to Electromagnetic Waves.
Additional examples:
A Bounded Source Can't Emit a Unipolar Electromagnetic Pulse,
The Transverse Momentum of an Electron in a Wave,
Classical "Dressing" of a Free Electron in a Plane Electromagnetic Wave,
The Radiofrequency Quadrupole.
Lecture 17, Optics and Difrraction; Gaussian Laser Beams. [I now think that a "short" course on E&M should include some mention of Gaussian laser beams. Lecture 17 gives more than a minimal introduction to this topic.]
Additional examples:
Diffraction as a Consequence of Faraday's Law,
Radial Dependence of Radiation from a Bounded Source,
Gaussian Laser Beams via Oblate Spheroidal Waves,
Axicon Gaussian Laser Beams, .pdf version with high-res figures. Transparencies with high-res figures,
Time-Reversed Diffraction,
Bessel Beams.
Lecture 12, Plane Waves in Dielectric Media.
Additional examples:
Group Velocity,
Laser Tweezers,
Slow Light,
Negative Group Velocity,
An Electrostatic Wave,
Magnetostatic Spin Waves.
Lecture 25, Lasers from a Classical Perspective.
[Lectures 25 and 26 are extensions of Lecture 12 beyond the core cirriculum.]
Additional examples:
Wave Amplification in a Magnetic Medium,
Self-Induced Transparency,
Self Trapping of Optical Beams.
Lecture 26, Solitons.
Lecture 13, Plane Waves in Conducting Media.
Additional examples:
Impedance Matching of Transmission Lines,
Distortionless Transmission Line,
An Off-Center "Coaxial" Cable,
The Grating Accelerator,
Polarization Dependence of Emissivity.
Lecture 14, Waves in Boxes and Pipes.
Additional examples:
An RF Cavity in Which Transverse Fields Grow Linearly with Radius,
Cerenkov Radiation in a Dielectric Wave Guide.
Lecture 15, Sources of the Waves -- The Retarded Potentials.
Additional examples:
The Relation between Expressions for Time-Dependent Electromagnetic Fields given by Jefimenko and by Panofsky and Phillips,
The Electromagnetic Fields Outside a Wire That Carries a Linearly Rising Current,
The Fields Outside a Solenoid with a Time-Dependent Current.
Lecture 16, Multipole Radiation, Antennas, Scattering.
Additional examples:
The Forces of Electrical Oscillations Treated According to Maxwell's Theory, H. Hertz, Nature, 39, 402 (1889).
Radiation in the Near Zone of a Hertzian Dipole,
Magnetars,
A Phased Antenna Array,
A Parallelogram Loop Antenna,
Small Fractal Antennas,
Isotropic Radiators,
Radiation from an AC Voltage Source,
Can an Antenna Be Cut Into Pieces (Without Affecting Its Radiation)?.
Lecture 22b, The Radiation Reaction.
Additional examples:
Limits on the Applicability of Classical Electromagmetic Fields as Inferred from the Radiation Reaction,
Hawking-Unruh Radiation and Radiation of a Uniformly Accelerated Charge,
The Radiation Reaction Force and the Radiation Resistance of Small Antennas.
Lecture 23, Interaction of Radiation with Matter -- Microscopic View.
Lecture 18, Special Relativity. The 4-Potential of a Moving Charge.
Lecture 19, Other Force Fields. Significance of Gauge Invariance. Fields of a Moving Charge.
Additional examples:
Vector Gravity.
Lecture 20, Relativistic Radiation Effects: Bremsstrahlung. Synchrotron Radiation.
Additional examples:
Notes on Synchrotron Radiation,
Measurement of Pulsewidth via Correlations in Intensity Fluctuations,
Classical Radiation Processes in the Weizsäcker-Williams Approximation,
Hertzian Dipole Radiation via the Weizsäcker-Williams Method,
The Weizsäcker-Williams Approximation to Trident Production in Electron-Photon Collisions.
Lecture 21, Relativistic Radiation Effects: Cerenkov Radiation. Transition Radiation.
Additional examples:
Cerenkov Radiation in a Dielectric Wave Guide,
Observation of Interference between Cerenkov and Synchrotron Radiation,
Radiation from a Superluminal Source,
Synchrotron-Cerenkov Radiation.
Lecture 22, Electromagnetic Mass. Radiation Reaction.
Additional examples:
An exchange of letters on electromagnetic field momentum.
Lecture 24, Mechanics and Electromagnetism. Additional examples:
Onoochin's Paradox.

Ph501 Problem sets:
Set 1, .ps version. (For lectures 1 and 2).
Set 2, .ps version. (For lectures 3 and 4).
Set 3, .ps version. (For lectures 5 and 6).
Set 4, .ps version. (For lectures 7 and 8).
Set 5, .ps version. (For lectures 9 and 10).
Set 6, .ps version. (For lectures 11 and 12).
Set 7, .ps version. (For lectures 13 and 14).
Set 8, .ps version. (For lectures 15 and 16).
[No solutions are given for Sets 9-12.]
Set 9 (For lectures 17 and 18).
Set 10 (For lectures 19 and 20).
Set 11 (For lectures 21 and 22).
Set 12 (For lectures 23 and 24).
Midterm exam, Oct. 2000, .ps version.

Ph406, Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics, problem sets. [without solutions]
Set 4 (March 1992). .ps version.
Set 7 (April 1993). .ps version.
Set 8 (April 1992). .ps version.
Set 9 (April 1993). .ps version.
Set 10 (May 1993). .ps version.
Final Exam (May 1992). .ps version.

Links

Download Aladdin Ghostscript to view .ps files.
Visit the Tucows website for an extensive collection of browser utilities.
Gerard 't Hooft's site on how to become a theoretical physicist in your "spare" time.
Download an interactive Radiation Simulator, by Tsumoru Shintake. Version on my site.
Click on image near bottom of page. I recommend turning off the auxiliary windows, and turning on "Plot Wavefront" under "View", "Field Plot."
Note that you can set the velocity of the charge to be greater than 1 => faster than light.
--- The classic textbook illustration of how yanking a charge causes radiation can be nicely simulated by choosing "Setup", "Trajectory", Line", velocity = 0.1, start = -0.05, stop = 0.05.
--- For a dipole radiator, try "Setup", "Trajectory", "Dipole Oscillation", velocity = 0.8, amplitude = 0.02.
--- For Cerenkov radiation, try "Setup", "Trajectory", Line", velocity = 1.5, start = -1.0, stop = 1.0. You may want to turn off "Plot Electric Field Lines" for this.
A collection of Java applets on physics,
Why an Antenna Radiates, by Ken Macleish.
Thinking about Physics, from U. Amherst.
Physics Central, from the APS.
MIT Physics 8.07, E&M, course page.
Harvard Physics 153, E&M, course page.
Chaos on the Web, Caltech PH161, by Michael Cross.
The Chaos Hypertextbook.
Applications of Classical Physics, Caltech PH136, by Roger Blandford, Kip Thorne and David Stevenson.
Modern Problems in Classical Electrodynamics, by Charles A. Brau.
Elektrodynamik, by Martin Zirnbauer. Maxwell's equations via chains and differential forms (2.4MB, in German). .pdf version. Other physics courses from U. Cologne.
Physics Problem of the Week, from David Morin.
Physics Questions/Problems, from Yakov Kantor.
Physics Problems by Akakii Melikidze.
The delightful Math Pages includes a Physics page.
Boston Area Undergraduate Physics Competition.
Physics Quiz by Juergen Giesen.
Visual Physics Question of the Week.
Physics Problems by University of Oregon Physics Students.
Duke Physics Challenges by Henry Greenside.
Physics of the Outdoors by Steven van Roode.
The Last Word by New Scientist magazine.
Physics Articles, from the Nobel Foundation.
General Interest Articles, from NIST.
Links to Educational Sites, from LBNL.
ProSEDS. NASA web on power generation by a satellite tether.
The Great Magnet, the Earth. NASA web page on planetary magnetism.
When North Goes South. LANL web page on terrestrial magnetism.
The Sand Mouse Web Page.
GrayLit Network, access to US government technical reports.
The Museum of Hoaxes.
The Museum of Unworkable Devices.
Ideal Scientific Equipment.
"The Alternative View" by John G. Cramer.
Quantum Philosopy Theories.

Kirk T. McDonald
kirkmcd@princeton.edu
Tel: +1-609-258-6608
Fax: +1-609-258-6360