Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2025/ii/paper-4/36b/b/solution

Let be the unit normal pointing from the minus medium to the plus medium. Integrating the Maxwell equations across an infinitesimal pillbox or loop gives the dielectric-interface boundary conditions
and
Thus tangential and are continuous, as are normal and .
Because , the normal electric field generally jumps according to
The tangential displacement field generally jumps because . Since the permeability is common, continuity of tangential is continuity of tangential ; together with normal- continuity, every component of is continuous. The same common also makes the normal component of continuous.

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