2. Boundary Conditions for Perfect Dielectric Materials
Chapter 6
Dielectrics and Capacitance
Boundary Conditions for Perfect Dielectric Materials
Consider the interface between two dielectrics having permittivities ε1 and ε2, as shown below.
We first examine the tangential components around the small closed path on the left, with Δw<< :

3. Boundary Conditions for Perfect Dielectric Materials
Chapter 6
Dielectrics and Capacitance
Boundary Conditions for Perfect Dielectric Materials
The tangential electric flux density is discontinuous,
The boundary conditions on the normal components are found by applying Gauss’s law to the small cylinder shown at the right of the previous figure (net tangential flux is zero).
ρS cannot be a bound surface charge density because the polarization already counted in by using dielectric constant different from unity
ρS cannot be a free surface charge density, for no free charge available in the perfect dielectrics we are considering
ρS exists only in special cases where it is deliberately placed there

4. Boundary Conditions for Perfect Dielectric Materials
Chapter 6
Dielectrics and Capacitance
Boundary Conditions for Perfect Dielectric Materials
Except for this special case, we may assume ρS is zero on the interface:
The normal component of electric flux density is continuous.
It follows that:

5. Boundary Conditions for Perfect Dielectric Materials
Chapter 6
Dielectrics and Capacitance
Boundary Conditions for Perfect Dielectric Materials
Combining the normal and the tangential components of D,
After one division,

6. Boundary Conditions for Perfect Dielectric Materials
Chapter 6
Dielectrics and Capacitance
Boundary Conditions for Perfect Dielectric Materials
The direction of E on each side of the boundary is identical with the direction of D, because D = εE.

7. Boundary Conditions for Perfect Dielectric Materials
Chapter 6
Dielectrics and Capacitance
Boundary Conditions for Perfect Dielectric Materials
The relationship between D1 and D2 may be found from:
The relationship between E1 and E2 may be found from:

8. Boundary Conditions for Perfect Dielectric Materials
Chapter 6
Dielectrics and Capacitance
Boundary Conditions for Perfect Dielectric Materials
Example
Complete the previous example by finding the fields within the Teflon.
E only has normal component

9. Boundary Conditions Between a Conductor and a Dielectric
Chapter 6
Dielectrics and Capacitance
Boundary Conditions Between a Conductor and a Dielectric
The boundary conditions existing at the interface between a conductor and a dielectric are much simpler than those previously discussed.
First, we know that D and E are both zero inside the conductor.
Second, the tangential E and D components must both be zero to satisfy:
Finally, the application of Gauss’s law shows once more that both D and E are normal to the conductor surface and that DN = ρS and EN = ρS/ε.
The boundary conditions for conductor–free space are valid also for conductor–dielectric boundary, with ε0 replaced by ε.

10. Boundary Conditions Between a Conductor and a Dielectric
Chapter 6
Dielectrics and Capacitance
Boundary Conditions Between a Conductor and a Dielectric
We will now spend a moment to examine one phenomena: “Any charge that is introduced internally within a conducting material will arrive at the surface as a surface charge.”
Given Ohm’s law and the continuity equation (free charges only):
We have:

11. Boundary Conditions Between a Conductor and a Dielectric
Chapter 6
Dielectrics and Capacitance
Boundary Conditions Between a Conductor and a Dielectric
If we assume that the medium is homogenous, so that σ and ε are not functions of position, we will have:
Using Maxwell’s first equation, we obtain;
Making the rough assumption that σ is not a function of ρv, it leads to an easy solution that at least permits us to compare different conductors.
The solution of the above equation is:
ρ0 is the charge density at t = 0
Exponential decay with time constant of ε/σ

12. Boundary Conditions Between a Conductor and a Dielectric
Chapter 6
Dielectrics and Capacitance
Boundary Conditions Between a Conductor and a Dielectric
Good conductors have low time constant. This means that the charge density within a good conductors will decay rapidly.
We may then safely consider the charge density to be zero within a good conductor.
In reality, no dielectric material is without some few free electrons (the charge density is thus not completely zero), but the charge introduced internally in any of them will eventually reach the surface. t ρv ρ0
ρ0/e
ε/σ

13. Chapter 6
Dielectrics and Capacitance
Homework
No homework this week.