Classical Electrodynamics – II

Plane wave in a non-conducting medium. Frequency dispersion characteristics of dielectrics, conductors and plasma, waves in a conducting or dissipative medium, superposition of waves in one dimension, group velocity, causalty, connection between D and E, Kramers-Kroning relation.

Introduction and definitions, MHD equations, Magnetic diffusion, viscosity and pressure, Pinch effect, instabilities in pinched plasma column, Magneto hydrodynamics wave, Plasma oscillations, short wave length limit of plasma oscillations and Debye shielding distance.

(a) Mathematical properties of the space-time special relativity, Invariance of electric charge, covariance of electrodynamics, Transformation of electromagnetic field.

(b) Thomson scattering and radiation, Scattering by quasi-free charges, coherent and incoherent scattering, Cherenkov radiation.                                                 

Solution of inhomogeneous wave equation by Fourier analysis; Lienard-Wiechert Potential for a point charge, Total power radiated by an accelerated charge, Larmour's formula and its relativistic generalization, Angular distribution of radiation emitted by an accelerated charge, Radiation emitted by a charge in arbitrary extremely relativistic motion. 

Introductory considerations, Radiative reaction force from conservation of energy, Abraham Lorentz evaluation of the self force, difficulties with Abraham Lorentz model, Integro-differential equation of motion including radiation damping, Line Breadth and level shift of an oscillator, Scattering and absorption of radiation by an oscillator.