NPTEL web course
on
Complex Analysis
A. Swaminathan
I.I.T. Roorkee, India
and
V.K. Katiyar
I.I.T. Roorkee, India
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Complex Analysis
Module: 9: Applications of Conformal Mapping
Lecture: 2: Electrostatic potential
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Applications of Conformal Mapping
Electrostatic potential
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Electrostatic potential
In this section, we discuss the application called Electrostatic potential.
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Electrostatic potential
In electrostatic potential, the field intensity at a point is a vector
representing the force exerted on a unit positive charge placed at
that point.
The electrostatic potential, is a scalar function.
For two stationary charged particles, the magnitude of force of
attraction or repulsion exerted by one particle on the other is
directly proportional to the product of the charges.
It is also inversely proportional to square of the distance between
the particles.
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Electrostatic potential
From inverse square law, it is easy to show that the distribution of
charges outside the region satisfies Laplace equation.
If V is the potential, then in the region free from charges, V is a
function of x and y and satisfies Vxx + Vyy = 0.
The electric field intensity vector at each point is parallel to the
xy -plane with components −Vx (x, y ) and −Vy (x, y ).
This vector is negative of the gradient of V (x, y ).
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Electrostatic potential
V (x, y ) is constant along the surface of a conductor, and that the
surface is an equipotential.
If U is harmonic conjugate of V , then U(x, y ) =constant are called
flux lines.
The point at which the flux lines intersect the equipotential, the
curves are orthogonal.
At this point, U(x, y ) + iV (x, y ) 6= 0.
Boundary value problem of V is similar to the steady temperature
problem.
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Electrostatic potential
We consider the following example.
Example
A long hollow circular cylinder is made out of a thin sheet of
conducting material.
The cylinder is split into two equal parts.
These parts are separated by electrodes.
One part is kept at potential zero (V = 0) and other at a fixed
potential (V = 1).
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Electrostatic potential
V=0
E
+ C
A 1 x
B
V=1
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Electrostatic potential
Example
1 1 i
The imaginary part of the function log w = log ρ + φ, ρ > 0
π π π
and 0 ≤ φ ≤ π is a bounded function of u and v and assumes
constant values at the points φ = 0 and φ = π.
Here log takes the principal values.
1
The desired harmonic function is V = tan−1 (v /u).
π
the value of tan−1 ranges from 0 to π.
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Electrostatic potential
Example
The bilinear transformation that maps the upper half plane onto
i −w
the interior of the unit circle centered at the origin is z =
i +w
1−z
The inverse of the transformation is w = i .
1+z
1
Hence V = tan−1 ((1 − x 2 − y 2 )/2y ), 0 ≤ tan−1 t ≤ π.
π
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Electrostatic potential
ρ w
A0 B0 C0 D0 φ
V =1 1V = 0 u
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Electrostatic potential
Example
To determine the electrostatic
potential φ in the domain between the
1 1
circles |z| = 1 and z − = with the boundary conditions
2 2
φ(x, y ) = −10 on x 2 + y 2 = 1
1 2
1
φ(x, y ) = 20 on x− + y2 = .
2 4
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Electrostatic potential
Solution:
First we map the given domain that lies between the circles |z| = 1
1 1
and z − = onto the infinite horizontal strip 0 < v < 1.
2 2
For this purpose, we choose three points 1, i and −1 on |z| = 1
and map them onto ∞, 0 and 1 respectively.
By applying Bilinear transformation, we get the map as
z −i x 2 + y 2 − 2x − 2y + 1 1 − x2 − y2
w = T (z) = (1−i) = +i .
z −1 (x − 1)2 + y 2 (x − 1)2 + y 2
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Electrostatic potential
The circle |z| = 1, is mapped onto the line v = 0 by the given
Bilinear transformation.
The
point
z = 1 is a pole of the given map, but lies on
z − = 1 . Hence we choose two other points.
1
2 2
1 i
For the point z0 = 0, T (0) = 1 + i and for the point z1 = + ,
2 2
1 1
T (z1 ) = −1 + i. Hence the image of z − = must be the
2 2
horizontal line v = 1.
Hence the given domain is mapped onto the infinite horizontal
strip 0 < v < 1.
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Electrostatic potential
Thus the transformed boundary conditions are Φ = −10 on v = 0
and Φ = 20 on v = 1.
This gives the solution of the transformed problem as
Φ(u, v ) = 30v − 10.
Hence the solution of the original problem is
1 − x2 − y2
φ(x, y ) = 30 − 10.
(x − 1)2 + y 2
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