Jackson 3.

9 Homework Problem Solution

Dr. Christopher S. Baird
University of Massachusetts Lowell

PROBLEM:
A hollow right circular cylinder of radius b has its axis coincident with the z axis and its ends at z = 0
and z = L. The potential on the end faces is zero, while the potential on the cylindrical surface is given
as V , z . Using the appropriate separation of variables in cylindrical coordinates, find a series
solution for the potential anywhere inside the cylinder.
SOLUTION:
There is no charge present, so we seek to solve the Laplace equation in cylindrical coordinates:
2

=0
2 2 z 2
Using the method of separation of variables, the general solution to this equations is:

, , z = A0,0B 0,0 ln C 0,0D 0,0 F 0, 0G0, 0 z

i
i
A , 0 B , 0 C ,0 e D , 0 e
F , 0G ,0 z
0

A0, k J 0 k B 0,k N 0 k C 0,k D0, k F 0,k e G0, k e

A , k J k B ,k N k C ,k e

kz

kz

k z

k0

0 k0

D ,k e

k z

F , k e G , k e

We seek a solution that must be valid on the full azimuthal sweep. This single-valued requirement
leads to D 0,0 =0 , D0,k =0 , and =m where m=0,1,2,3,. ..
, , z = A0,0B 0,0 ln F 0, 0G0, 0 z
Am ,0 m B , 0 mC ,0 e i m D ,0 ei m F m ,0G m ,0 z
m0

A0, k J 0 k B 0,k N 0 k F 0,k e k z G0, k ek z

k0

Am , k J m k B m , k N m k C m , k e i m Dm ,k e i m F ,k e k z G m , k ek z
m0 k 0

We also seek a solution that is valid along the z axis. The Neumann functions, the -m terms, and the
ln terms blow up on this axis, so their coefficients must be set to zero to keep the solution valid. This
leads to:

 , , z = F 0,0 G0,0 z
m C ,0 e i m D ,0 ei m F m, 0G m , 0 z
m0

J 0 k F 0,k e G0, k e
kz

k z

k0

J m k C m ,k e i m Dm ,k e i m F ,k e k z G m , k ek z
m0 k 0

At this point, several terms can be combined:

m

, , z = C ,0 e

im

i m

D ,0 e

F m , 0G m, 0 z

J m k C m, k e

im

m k0

i m

D m , k e

kz

F , k e G m ,k e

k z

Apply the boundary condition z=0=0

0= m C ,0 e i m D ,0 ei m F m ,0 J m k C m , k ei m D m, k ei m F , k G m, k
m

m k0

0=F m , 0

G m , k =F , k
This leads to:
m

, , z = C ,0 e

im

i m

D ,0 e

G m , 0 z J m k C m ,k e

im

i m

Dm , k e

sinh k z

m k 0

Apply the boundary condition z=L=0

0= m C ,0 e i m D ,0 ei m G m , 0 L J m k C m ,k e i m Dm , k ei m sinh k L
m

m k 0

0=Gm ,0

0=sinh k L
k =i

n
where n=0,1,2,...
L

This leads to (using sinhi =i sin ):

, , z = J m i n
m

z
C m ,n e i m Dm ,n ei m sin n
L
L

The Bessel functions of pure imaginary argument are defined to be modified Bessel functions:

J i x =i I x

 L C

, , z = i m I m n
m

m ,n

e i m Dm ,n ei m sin n

z
L

Apply the final boundary condition: =b=V , z

V , z = i m I m n
m

b
z
sin n
C m ,n e i m D m , n ei m
L
L

This is just a two-dimensional Fourier series. Multiply both side by a negative complex exponential and
integrate:
2

V , z e

i m '

d = i I m
m

b
z
n
sin n
C m ,n e i mm ' d D m , n ei m m ' d
L
L
0
0
2

Use the orthogonality of the complex exponentials:

e i kk 'x dx=2 k , k '

0

V , z ei m d = i m I m
n

b
z
sin n
C m ,n 2
L
L

Multiply both sides by a sine function and integrate:

L 2

V , z ei m d sin n '
0

L
0

V , z ei m d sin
0

sin n

Use the orthogonality of the sine functions: sin n

L 2

x
b
dx= i m I m n
L
L
n

z
z
sin n '
dz C m , n 2
L
L

x
x
L
sin n '
dx = n ,n '
L
L
2

z
b L
dz =i m I m n
C 2
L
L 2 m, n

Solve for the coefficients:

C m ,n =

L 2

V , z ei m sin

L i m I m n

b
L

z
dd z
L

The exact same process is repeated, this time starting by multiplying by a positive complex exponential
D m , n=

L 2

L i m I m n

b
L

V , z e i m sin
0

It becomes obvious now that D m , n=C m ,n *

z
d d z
L

After redefining constants to simplify the expression, the solution becomes:

, , z =

1
L

I n / L

I m n b/ L C m , n ei m C *m ,n ei m sin
m=0 n=1

L 2

where

C m ,n = V , z ei m sin n
0

z
L

z
dd z
L