Multipole structure and coordinate systems

Introductory exposition (textbooks, tutorial papers, etc.) pertaining to optics and electromagnetic theory (78-01) Electro- and magnetostatics (78A30)

Abstract: Multipole expansions depend on the coordinate system, so that coefficients of multipole moments can be set equal to zero by an appropriate choice of coordinates. Therefore, it is meaningless to say that a physical system has a nonvanishing quadrupole moment, say, without specifying which coordinate system is used. (Except if this moment is the lowest non-vanishing one.) This result is demonstrated for the case of two equal like electric charges. Specifically, an adapted coordinate system in which the potential is given by a monopole term only is explicitly found, the coefficients of all higher multipoles vanish identically. It is suggested that this result can be generalized to other potential problems, by making equal coordinate surfaces coincide with the potential problem's equipotential surfaces.

Recommendations

Cited in

(6)

This page was built for publication: Multipole structure and coordinate systems

Report a bug (only for logged in users!)Click here to report a bug for this page (MaRDI item Q3445803)