3.

6 Theoretical Aspects of Image Charges 61

Then

p(r‘)GD(r,r’)dV’, if 4(F) = 0. (3.10)

In Eq. (3.10) we make the following substitution for G (this is explained in

more detail in Sec. 3.6.4):

1
G + GD(r,r’) = ____
Ir - r’)
+ F(r,r’).
Substituting this into Eq. (3.9), we obtain

and using Eq. (3.5),

This equation represents a relation between the image potential F(r,r’) and
the boundary conditions. If #(r) = 0 on the boundary of V (Dirichlet con-
dition), then the following relation

0 =k s, p(r’)F(r, r’)dV’ +-
47r
(3.12)

is the equation from which, in principle, the image potential F(r,r’)is to

be determined. The validity of this relation can be verified in the case of
the spherically shaped conductor treated above, although such a check is
nontrivial. In the case of Neumann boundary conditions, which we shaIl not
pursue further here, one has to choose (see e.g. Greiner [4])

aGN(r, r‘)/an‘ = -4n/F.