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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.

The moving point charge has distributional charge density and current densityLetThe given retarded fundamental solution identity immediately implies that the retarded potentialssolve $\square \varphi =-\rho /{ϵ}_0$ and $\square \mathbf{A}=-{\mu }_0\mathbf{J}$ in the sense of distributions. Integrating the spatial Dirac delta function first givesand the analogous integral for $\mathbf{A}$ has numerator ${\mu }_{0}q{\mathbf{v}}_0(t^{\prime })/(4\pi )$.

Assume the physical trajectory has subluminal speed and the retarded time exists. At its root $t_r$, with ${\mathbf{n}}_r=\mathbf{R}(t_r)/R(t_r)$,The positive factor $\kappa =1-{\mathbf{n}}_r\cdot {\mathbf{v}}_0/c$ also proves uniqueness of retarded time for a subluminal source. The Dirac delta function substitution formula gives $\delta (g(t^{\prime }))=\delta (t^{\prime }-t_r)/\kappa$, soThese are the Lienard-Wiechert potentials. The denominator includes the time-substitution factor, rather than just the retarded distance. Away from the trajectory the electric potential and magnetic vector potential are ordinary smooth functions; on the trajectory their wave equations have the indicated distributional sources.

For completeness, the charge continuity equation ${\partial }_{t^{\prime }}\rho +{\nabla }^{\prime }\cdot \mathbf{J}=0$ also verifies the Lorenz gauge. Using $\nabla K=-{\nabla }^{\prime }K$ and ${\partial }_{t}K=-{\partial }_{t^{\prime }}K$, integration by parts in the retarded integrals giveswith the retarded boundary prescription. Thus the construction also has the required Lorenz gauge condition.

The retarded potential represents causal propagation: each source element contributes according to its charge density at the earlier time needed for a signal to reach the observer, with inverse-distance weighting. The printed formula uses units with the speed of light equal to one.

Insert a Dirac delta function in time to writeFor the moving point charge, spatial integration leaves $q/(4\pi {ϵ}_0)$ times $\int R(\tau {)}^{-1}\delta (t-\tau -R(\tau ))d\tau$, with $R(\tau )=|x-x_0(\tau )|$. The retarded time ${\tau }_r$ solves $t-{\tau }_r=R({\tau }_r)$. Since $R^{\prime }(\tau )=-v(\tau )\cdot n(\tau )$, the delta-function Jacobian is $1-v\cdot n$, positive for subluminal motion. Therefore the Liénard–Wiechert potential iswhere $R=x-x_0({\tau }_r)$ and $v={\dot{x}}_0({\tau }_r)$. Replacing charge density by the current density $qv{\delta }^{(3)}(x-x_0)$ gives $\boxed{A=v\varphi }$ in these $c=1$ units. Restoring SI units gives denominator $R-v\cdot R/c$ and $A=v\varphi /c^2$, with all source quantities still evaluated at retarded time.

The magnetic vector potential is defined by $\mathbf{B}=\nabla \times \mathbf{A}$. The gauge transformationleaves both $\mathbf{B}$ and $\mathbf{E}=-\nabla \varphi -{\partial }_t\mathbf{A}$ unchanged. In magnetostatics choose the Coulomb gauge $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{A}=0$. Then Ampère's law and the curl-of-curl identity giveThe free-space Green function identity ${\nabla }^2|\mathbf{r}-{\mathbf{r}}^{\prime }{|}^{-1}=-4\pi {\delta }^{(3)}(\mathbf{r}-{\mathbf{r}}^{\prime })$ therefore givesThe boundary condition selects the homogeneous solution; the usual decay condition assumes suitably localized sources. An infinitely long static wire needs a reference for its logarithmically divergent potential, although its magnetic field is finite away from the wire.

For time-dependent sources use the Lorenz gauge, $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{A}+c^{-2}{\partial }_t\varphi =0$, and the outgoing retarded potentialThe scalar potential has the analogous retarded charge-density integral. The two gauges should not be conflated for a general time-dependent source.^[ref]

For the prescribed uncharged wire, $\rho =0$ and $\varphi =0$ is consistent. Translation invariance makes $\mathbf{A}=A_z(r,t)\hat{\mathbf{z}}$ with $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{A}=0$, so this particular solution satisfies both gauge conditions. With $s=z^{\prime }-z$,It is zero for $t<r/c$. For $t>r/c$, set $L=\sqrt{c^2{t}^2-r^2}$. The causal interval is $-L<s<L$, giving the switched infinite-wire retarded potentialDifferentiation gives the fields and Poynting vector, for $r>0$, $t>r/c$:Here $\mathbf{B}={\mu }_0\mathbf{H}$ and $B_{\varphi }=-{\partial }_r{A}_z$. All three fields vanish before arrival. For positive $I$, $\mathbf{E}$ opposes the imposed current and the radial energy flow after switching a line current points radially outward: $(-\hat{\mathbf{z}})\times \hat{\mathbf{\varphi }}=\hat{\mathbf{r}}$.

For the graph, let $u=ct/r$. Normalized to $E_{\ast }={\mu }_{0}Ic/(2\pi r)$, $H_{\ast }=I/(2\pi r)$ and $N_{\ast }={\mu }_0{I}^{2}c/(4{\pi }^2{r}^2)$, the curves areAt the wavefront, $|E_z|$ and $H_{\varphi }$ diverge as $(u-1{)}^{-1/2}$ and $N_r$ as $(u-1{)}^{-1}$. This abrupt line-current wavefront singularity reflects the ideal instantaneous turn-on of a line current; a finite rise time smooths the front. At late times,The vector potential grows logarithmically with time in this infinite-wire idealization even as the local magnetic field approaches its static limit. The divergent front should not be interpreted as a finite-energy pulse from a real instantaneous switching experiment.

Let $z^{\mu }(\tau )$ be the point electric charge's world line, with proper time $\tau$ and four-velocity $U^{\mu }=d{z}^{\mu }/d\tau =\gamma (c,\mathbf{u})$. For the field event $x^{\mu }$, choose the retarded source event: $R^{\mu }=x^{\mu }-z^{\mu }({\tau }_{\mathrm{ret}})$ is future-directed and null. Write $R^{\mu }=(R,R\mathbf{n})$, where $R=|\mathbf{x}-\mathbf{z}(t_{\mathrm{ret}})|=c(t-t_{\mathrm{ret}})$. In the instantaneous rest inertial frame of that source event,Consequently the covariant expression matching this Coulomb potential isThe denominator is a Lorentz scalar, so the right-hand side is a four-vector with the required instantaneous-rest components. This describes the retarded potential in Lorenz gauge, with no added free electromagnetic wave. Lorentz covariance alone does not establish the boundary conditions or exclude additional terms depending on four-acceleration. The physical input is the retarded point-source solution of Maxwell equations: the potential at the retarded event depends on the instantaneous four-current, while its derivatives generate the acceleration field. Equivalently, evaluating the retarded source integral gives a Jacobian $1/(1-\mathbf{n}\cdot \mathbf{\beta })$ from the light-cone constraint; this fixes that input for arbitrary smooth subluminal motion.^[ref]

In any inertial frame, put $\mathbf{\beta }=\mathbf{u}/c$ and $\kappa =1-\mathbf{n}\cdot \mathbf{\beta }$. Then $-R\cdot U=\gamma cR\kappa$, and the Liénard–Wiechert potential isDifferentiate using $\mathbf{E}=-\nabla \varphi -{\partial }_t\mathbf{A}$ and $\mathbf{B}=\nabla \times \mathbf{A}$, including the position and time dependence of the retarded time. For example, $\partial t_{\mathrm{ret}}/\partial t=1/\kappa$ and $\nabla t_{\mathrm{ret}}=-\mathbf{n}/(c\kappa )$. The resulting Liénard-Wiechert field isHere the dot denotes a derivative with respect to source coordinate time. The first term is the velocity or non-radiative field: it falls as $R^{-2}$ and exists even without acceleration. The second is the acceleration or radiation field, falling as $R^{-1}$ and transverse to $\mathbf{n}$. Its Poynting flux falls as $R^{-2}$, so its outward power integrated over a large sphere stays finite as its radius tends to infinity. The first term's squared-field flux instead vanishes in that limit. This large-distance distinction defines radiation; a moving near field can carry local energy without constituting radiation escaping to infinity.

The Lorenz gauge condition is $\nabla \cdot \mathbf{A}=-c^{-2}{\partial }_t\varphi$. Substitute the electric potential and magnetic vector potential into Gauss's law:Next the Ampère-Maxwell equation, the curl of the curl identity, and the Lorenz gauge condition giveThe gradient terms cancel. Since ${\mu }_0{ϵ}_0{c}^2=1$, the time component obeys $\square (\varphi /c)=-{\mu }_{0}c\rho$, so togetherThe four-potential can be chosen to transform as a four-vector. To make the argument rigorous, choose the retarded potential with no freely added homogeneous solution. If $\square G_{\mathrm{ret}}(x)={\delta }^{(4)}(x)$, this choice isThe retarded Green function is a Lorentz scalar under proper orthochronous Lorentz transformations, and $d^{4}y$ is invariant. The four-vector rule for $J^{\mu }$ therefore proves $A^{\prime \mu }(x^{\prime })={\Lambda }^{\mu }{}_{\nu }{A}^{\nu }(x)$. More generally, transform any homogeneous initial data by this same rule. Both the wave equation and the Lorenz gauge condition are then preserved.

Qualification. The wave equation by itself cannot prove the transformation rule for every independently chosen gauge potential: the d'Alembert operator has a nontrivial kernel of a linear map. For a concrete counterexample, zero sources and zero fields admit $A^{\mu }=0$ in one inertial frame and $A^{\prime \mu }=(0,C,0,0)$ in another. Both satisfy the wave equation and the Lorenz gauge condition, but the latter is not the Lorentz transformation of zero. It is a residual Lorenz gauge symmetry, generated by $\chi =C{x}^{\prime }$. Thus the usual assertion is a covariant choice of four-potential, with a consistent gauge transformation and homogeneous data, rather than a uniqueness result from the displayed equation.

The past light cone of a spacetime event $O$ is the past-directed part of its light cone. In Minkowski spacetime, its spacetime events satisfy $|\Delta \mathbf{x}|=-c\Delta t$ with $\Delta t<0$. They are the possible emission events of light rays arriving at $O$. The interior also contains events that can send slower signals to $O$. The retarded potential of a moving point electric charge, given by the Liénard–Wiechert potential, uses the emission event where the source's world line intersects this boundary.

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.