Hertzian dipole electric fields produced by an oscillating electron
These five programs plot the electric fields, depicted as arrays of arrows, induced by one or more accelerated electron.
There are two of linearly polarized radiation, one of which shows the electric field out of the plane of oscillation of the electron, and the other in the plane of oscillation.
The third animation shows the circularly polarized field induced by a circularly moving electron, omitting the drop-off in amplitude with distance from the electron.
The fourth code calculates the electric field for a linear array of electrons moving with the same phase - essentially, it demonstrates the Huygens’ construction.
The fifth codes for two electrons that are initially overlapping that separate slowly, inducing interference, as in Young’s double slit experiment. The electrons’ maximum separation is twice the wavelength.
All three animations follow the equation
,
whereby is the acceleration component of the oscillating electron at any one time perpendicular to the line connecting the electron to the point in the electric field, separated by a distance R. As said, note that in the third animation, the denominator term R is absent.
The first, second, and fourth videos last for a single electron oscillation/wavelength propagation, so should be played on loop.