Retarded potential

A retarded potential evaluates each source at the event on the source's past light cone. This accounts for propagation at the speed of light and enforces causality.

An ideal electric dipole at the origin with smooth electric dipole moment $\mathbf{p}(t)$ has Lorenz gauge electric potential and magnetic vector potential, for $r>0$,For a short proof, place electric charges $sq$ at $s\mathbf{p}/(2q)$, $s=\pm 1$, and let $q\to \infty$ with $\mathbf{p}$ fixed. The corresponding retarded times are $t_0+s\mathbf{n}\cdot \mathbf{p}(t_0)/(2qc)+O(q^{-2})$. Each Liénard–Wiechert potential has denominator $r-s(\mathbf{n}\cdot \mathbf{p}+r\mathbf{n}\cdot {\mathbf{p}}^{\prime }/c)/(2q)+O(q^{-2})$. The opposite $q/r$ terms cancel, leaving the displayed electric potential. The products of signed electric charge and velocity add, giving the displayed magnetic vector potential. Bounded time derivatives on the relevant interval justify the Taylor expansions.

The causal magnetic vector potential generated by a current density in the Lorenz gauge, with no additional incoming homogeneous field. Each source contribution is evaluated at its retarded time. The integral is a convolution with the retarded wave-equation Green function; its validity includes the stated boundary and source conditions.

For a spatially uniform line current $I\Theta (t)$, the causal potential outside the line is $A_z=({\mu }_{0}I/2\pi )\mathrm{arcosh}(ct/r)$ for $ct>r$, and zero before arrival. The finite causal integration length makes it finite at finite time, unlike an absolute magnetostatic potential for an infinite wire.

The induced electric field opposes the increasing axial current, while the magnetic field circles it. Their Poynting vector points radially outward and transports energy into the growing magnetic-field region.

The ideal fields after instantaneous switching behave as $E_z,H_{\varphi }\propto (t-r/c{)}^{-1/2}$ near arrival, and the radial Poynting vector as $(t-r/c{)}^{-1}$. A finite switching rise time smooths the ideal front; the singular solution does not represent a finite-energy real pulse.

For a source point $y(s)$ and field event $(x,t)$, the retarded time solves

For a stationary distant detector, the arrival time of a light signal emitted at $(t,\mathbf{x}(t))$ is $t_a=t+|{\mathbf{x}}_D-\mathbf{x}(t)|/c$. Its derivative is $d{t}_a/dt=1-\mathbf{n}\cdot \mathbf{u}/c$, where $\mathbf{n}$ points from the source to the detector. This exact relation follows by differentiating the distance; a constant viewing direction is a far-field approximation. For a source approaching near the speed of light, a long emission interval can correspond to a short arrival interval. Combining it with the $1/\gamma$ cone of relativistic beaming yields synchrotron pulse compression of order $r/(c{\gamma }^3)$.

For $R(s)=|x-y(s)|$ and $|v|<c$, the function $F(s)=s+R(s)/c$ hasIt is strictly increasing, so the retarded-time equation has at most one solution.

The potentials of a point charge $q$ arewith every source quantity evaluated at the retarded time.

The Liénard-Wiechert field is the electric field and magnetic field obtained from the retarded potentials of a moving point charge. In the nonrelativistic radiation zone, the electric radiation field is ${\mathbf{E}}_{\mathrm{rad}}=q\hat{\mathbf{n}}\times (\hat{\mathbf{n}}\times \mathbf{a})/(4\pi {ϵ}_0{c}^{2}R)$ at retarded time. Its outgoing Poynting vector integrates to the Larmor formula. Coulomb and induction fields must also be retained when a near-field calculation is required.

Let $\mathbf{R}$ join the instantaneous position of charge q to the field point, with constant $\mathbf{\beta }=\mathbf{v}/c$. Transforming its rest-frame Coulomb field givesThe electric field is radial from the current position, reduced along the velocity and enhanced transversely. This present-position form is compatible with the causal retarded solution specifically because motion is uniform. There is no acceleration-dependent radiation field, although the moving charge has a magnetic field and transports electromagnetic energy.