Deriving Fields of Moving Point Charge From

Jemenko's equations
Seng Chien Yeah

March 26, 2010

The Jemenko's equations are given by:

ˆ ⃗˙ r′ , tr )
1 ρ(⃗r′ , tr ) ρ̇(⃗r′ , tr ) J(⃗
⃗ r, t)
E(⃗ = [ b
η + b
η − ]dτ ′
4πϵ0 η2 cη c2 η
ˆ ⃗ ′ ⃗˙ r′ , tr )
µ0 J(⃗r , tr ) J(⃗
⃗ r, t)
B(⃗ = [ + ] × ηbdτ ′
4π η2 cη

Where ⃗η ≡ ⃗r − ⃗r′ , η = |⃗r − ⃗r′ | and tr ≡ t − ηc . A moving point charge has its
charge and current density as the following:
ρ(⃗r′ , tr ) = qδ 3 (⃗r′ − w(t
⃗ r ))
⃗ r , tr ) = q⃗v (tr )δ (⃗r′ − w(t
J(⃗ ′ 3
⃗ r ))

What we need to do now is to plug the charge and current density into
the Jemenko's equations, and then evaluate the integral. But before this let's
do some preparation work. We dene: ⃗r′′ ≡ ⃗r′ − w(t ⃗ r ), because later we'll
do a change of integration varibale from ⃗r′ to ⃗r′′ . Also, we need to know the
∂x′i
general expression of ∂x ′′ . It is evaluated as the following (notice that Einstein's
j
summation is assummed throughout the whole working):
⃗r′ ≡ ⃗r′′ + w(t
⃗ r)
∂x′ 1 ∂x′ ∂y ′ ∂z ′
⇒ = 1 + vx (tr ){ηx ′′ + ηy ′′ + ηz ′′ }
∂x′′ cη ∂x ∂x ∂x
∂y ′ 1 ∂x ′
∂y ′
∂z ′
= vy (tr ){ηx ′′ + ηy ′′ + ηz ′′ }
∂x′′ cη ∂x ∂x ∂x
∂z ′ 1 ∂x′ ∂y ′ ∂z ′
= vz (tr ){ηx ′′ + ηy ′′ + ηz ′′ }
∂x′′ cη ∂x ∂x ∂x
Solving these three linear equations, we obtain:
∂x′ 1 1
= 1+ vx ηx
∂x′′ v ·b cη
1− ⃗
c
η

1
 ∂y ′ 1 1
= vy ηx
∂x′′ v ·b cη
1− ⃗
c
η

′
∂z 1 1
= vz ηx
∂x′′ v ·b cη
1− ⃗
c
η

To be parallel with Griths, we dene ⃗u = cb

η − ⃗v , so the previous result can
be written in the following general form:
∂x′i 1
′′ = δij + vi ηj
∂xj ⃗u · ⃗η

Next we need the expression of derivaties of certain functions with respect

to ⃗r′ (the reason will be clear later). There's no diculty at all in the derivation
(the only point to remember is that all functions with time-dependence are
evaluated at the retarded time), so we just quote the results:
∂k′ η = −(bη )k
1 1
∂k′ (b
η )i = − δik + (b
η )i (b
η )k
η η
1
∂k′ vi = ai (b
η )k
c
c c 1
∂k′ ui = − δik + (b η )k − ai (b
η )i (b η )k
η η c
1
∂k′ (⃗u · ⃗η ) = −c(b
η )k − (⃗a · ⃗η )(b
η )k + vk
c
The third thing to know is how to take time derivative on the charge and
current density. It can be easily done using chain rule:
ρ̇(⃗r′ , tr ) = ∂tr qδ 3 (⃗r′ − w(t
⃗ r ))
′′
∂⃗r
= q · ∇′′ δ 3 (⃗r′′ )
∂tr
= −q⃗v (tr ) · ∇′′ δ 3 (⃗r′′ )
˙⃗ ′
J(⃗r , tr ) = ∂tr {q⃗v (tr )δ 3 (⃗r′ − w(t
⃗ r ))}
= q⃗a(tr )δ (⃗r ) − q⃗v (tr ){⃗v (tr ) · ∇′′ δ 3 (⃗r′′ )}
3 ′′

Finally we recall that when we change the integration variable from ⃗r′ to ⃗r′′ ,
the integration measure also suers a change:
1 cη
dτ ′ = dτ ′′ = dτ ′′
1 − ⃗vc·b
η ⃗u · ⃗η

This feature was discussed in the class when we learned the Lienard-Wiechert
potential.

2
 Now we have everything prepared so we can start our job. There are three
terms in the E
⃗ -formula, and the rst term reads:
ˆ 3 ′′
q δ (⃗r )
ηbdτ ′
4πϵ0 η2
ˆ 3 ′′
qc δ (⃗r ) 1
= ηb dτ ′′
4πϵ0 η ⃗u · ⃗η
qc
= ηb
4πϵ0 η(⃗u · ⃗η )
The integration is done using the delta-function. One point here to be em-
phasized: before doing the integration, ⃗r′ and (⃗r, t) are independent variables;
however after carrying out the integration, ⃗r′ becomes a function of (⃗r, t) given
implicitly by:
|⃗r − ⃗r′ |
⃗r′ = w(t
⃗ − )
c
We then evaluate the second term. It goes as:
ˆ
1 ρ̇(⃗r′ , tr )
ηbdτ ′
4πϵ0 cη
ˆ
q 1
= − ηb{⃗v (tr ) · ∇′′ δ 3 (⃗r′′ )}dτ ′′
4πϵ0 ⃗u · ⃗η
ˆ
q ⃗v ηb
= [∇′′ · { }]δ 3 (⃗r′′ )dτ ′′
4πϵ0 ⃗u · ⃗η
We have performed an integration by part to obtain the last line. The nal
expression is a vector, with its ith component given by:
ˆ
q vj (b
η )i 3 ′′
[∂j′′ { }]δ (⃗r )dτ ′′
4πϵ0 ⃗u · ⃗η
Before carrying out the actual integration, let's just leave it there, and pro-
ceed to the third term, which reads:
ˆ ⃗˙ ′
1 J(⃗r , tr ) ′
− dτ
4πϵ0 c2 η
ˆ
1 q⃗a(tr )δ 3 (⃗r′′ ) − q⃗v (tr ){⃗v (tr ) · ∇′′ δ 3 (⃗r′′ )} ′′
= − dτ
4πϵ0 c⃗u · ⃗η
ˆ
q⃗a q ⃗v (tr ){⃗v (tr ) · ∇′′ δ 3 (⃗r′′ )} ′′
= − + dτ
4πϵ0 c(⃗u · ⃗η ) 4πϵ0 c ⃗u · ⃗η
ˆ
q⃗a q ⃗v⃗v
= − − [∇′′ · { }]δ 3 (⃗r′′ )dτ ′′
4πϵ0 c(⃗u · ⃗η ) 4πϵ0 c ⃗u · ⃗η
Now we can add all three terms together, and otain:
ˆ
qc q⃗a q ⃗v⃗u
⃗ =
E ηb − + [∇′′ · { }]δ 3 (⃗r′′ )dτ ′′
4πϵ0 η(⃗u · ⃗η ) 4πϵ0 c(⃗u · ⃗η ) 4πϵ0 c ⃗u · ⃗η

3
We have to evaluate ∇′′ · { ⃗u⃗v·⃗⃗uη } before carrying out the integration using delta-
function. This is probably the most dicult part, so I'll present the calculation
as clear as possible. Let's evaluate one component of it, say ith component. It
goes as:
⃗v⃗u
(∇′′ · { })i
⃗u · ⃗η
vj ui
= ∂j′′ { }
⃗u · ⃗η
∂x′k ′ vj ui
= ∂ { }
∂x′′j k ⃗u · ⃗η
1 vj ui
= {δjk + vk ηj }∂k′ { }
⃗u · ⃗η ⃗u · ⃗η
1 1
= {δjk + vk ηj } {(⃗u · ⃗η )(vj ∂k′ ui + ui ∂k′ vj ) − vj ui ∂k′ (⃗u · ⃗η )}
⃗u · ⃗η (⃗u · ⃗η )2
1
= [(⃗u · ⃗η ){vk ∂k′ ui + ui ∂k′ vk } − vk ui ∂k′ (⃗u · ⃗η )
(⃗u · ⃗η )2
1
+ {(⃗u · ⃗η )[(⃗v · ⃗η )vk ∂k′ ui + ui ηj vk ∂k′ vj ] − (⃗v · ⃗η )ui vk ∂k′ (⃗u · ⃗η )}]
⃗u · ⃗η
1 c c 1 1
= {vk [− δik + (b η )i (bη )k − ai (b η )k ] + ui ⃗a · ηb}
⃗u · ⃗η η η c c
1 1
− vk ui {−c(b η )k − (⃗a · ⃗η )(b η )k + vk }
(⃗u · ⃗η )2 c
⃗v · ⃗η c c 1 1
+ {vk [− δik + (b η )k − ai (b
η )i (b η )k ] + ui ⃗a · ηb}
(⃗u · ⃗η ) 2 η η c c
⃗v · ⃗η 1
− vk ui {−c(b η )k − (⃗a · ⃗η )(b η )k + vk }
(⃗u · ⃗η )3 c

Adding 1st line to 3rd line, and 2nd line to 4th line, we get:
cη c c 1 1
{vk [− δik + (b η )i (bη )k − ai (b η )k ] + ui ⃗a · ηb}
(⃗u · ⃗η )2 η η c c
cη 1
− vk ui {−uk − (⃗a · ⃗η )(b η )k }
(⃗u · ⃗η )3 c
c 1 1
= {cui − c(⃗u · ηb)(b η )i − (⃗v · ⃗η )ai + (⃗a · ⃗η )ui }
(⃗u · ⃗η )2 c c
c 1
− {−η(⃗v · ⃗u)ui − (⃗a · ⃗η )(⃗v · ⃗η )ui }
(⃗u · ⃗η )3 c
2
c ui 2
c (b η )i (⃗v · ⃗η )ai cη(⃗v · ⃗u)ui cη(⃗a · ⃗η )ui
= − − + +
(⃗u · ⃗η )2 η(⃗u · ⃗η ) (⃗u · ⃗η )2 (⃗u · ⃗η )3 (⃗u · ⃗η )3

The last line is simple enough, so we just stop at this point. After this, we
evaluate the integral using delta-function δ 3 (⃗r′′ ), which results in all ⃗r′ taking
denite value, as described previously.

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 In the last step we put all the pieces together, producing:
qcbη q⃗a q c2 ⃗u c2 ηb (⃗v · ⃗η )⃗a
⃗
E = − + { − −
4πϵ0 η(⃗u · ⃗η ) 4πϵ0 c(⃗u · ⃗η ) 4πϵ0 c (⃗u · ⃗η ) 2 η(⃗u · ⃗η ) (⃗u · ⃗η )2
cη(⃗v · ⃗u)⃗u cη(⃗a · ⃗η )⃗u
+ + }
(⃗u · ⃗η )3 (⃗u · ⃗η )3
qη⃗a qc⃗u qη(⃗v · ⃗u)⃗u qη(⃗a · ⃗η )⃗u
= − + + +
⃗
4πϵ0 (u · ⃗η ) 2 4πϵ0 (⃗u · ⃗η )2 4πϵ0 (⃗u · ⃗η )3 4πϵ0 (⃗u · ⃗η )3
qη c
= [−(⃗u · ⃗η )⃗a + (⃗u · ⃗η )⃗u + (⃗v · ⃗u)⃗u + (⃗a · ⃗η )⃗u]
4πϵ0 (⃗u · ⃗η )3 η
qη c
= [−(⃗u · ⃗η )⃗a + (⃗a · ⃗η )⃗u + (⃗u · ⃗η )⃗u + (cb η · ⃗v − v 2 )⃗u]
4πϵ0 (⃗u · ⃗η )3 η
qη
= [⃗η × (⃗u × ⃗a) + (c2 − v 2 )⃗u]
4πϵ0 (⃗u · ⃗η )3

This is exactly (10.65) of Griths' textbook, hence we've successfully derived

the electric eld produced by a single moving point charge. The magnetic eld
can be worked out accordingly, so we will not write it down here.