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Computational Electromagnetics :
Introduction to Green’s functions

Uday Khankhoje

Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras

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Topics in this module

1 Motivations for Green’s functions

2 A one-dimensional example

3 Some general properties of Green’s functions

4 A two-dimensional example

5 A three-dimensional example
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Table of Contents

1 Motivations for Green’s functions

2 A one-dimensional example

3 Some general properties of Green’s functions

4 A two-dimensional example

5 A three-dimensional example
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Green’s function: the motivation
Electrical Engineers are familiar with the concept of a impulse response of a system:

Fourier transform
R∞ defn:
X(ω) = −∞ x(t) exp(jωt) dt

Domain: time freq

How do we calculate h(t)?

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Green’s function: the motivation
Make the idea of impulse response more general → also called Green’s function

Now L is an operator:

Define impulse response as:

How to solve:

(this is the equivalent of convolution)

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Table of Contents

1 Motivations for Green’s functions

2 A one-dimensional example

3 Some general properties of Green’s functions

4 A two-dimensional example

5 A three-dimensional example
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1-D example: string tied at both ends
d2 u(x)
Differential equation is dx2
= F (x)

u(x) :
F (x) :
Boundary conditions are:

Green’s function defn:

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1-D example: solving with boundary conditions
d2 g(x,x0 )
Let’s solve when x 6= x0 =⇒ dx2
= 0 =⇒

Consider two cases: How many variables?

x < x0

x > x0

Apply boundary condns

String continuity
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1-D example: final solution
We have 4 variables, and 3 relations. Final trick?
Is G0 continuous?

Final solution is:

Wrapping it all up:

G(x, x0 ) =
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1-D example: alternate representation
We derived a closed form solution, but alternatives possible
G(x, x0 ) has finite energy =⇒ square integrable

Write as: G(x, x0 ) =

Substitute into eqn: G00 (x, x0 ) = δ(x, x0 )

How to get an ? Orthogonality?

Pn 0
Finally we get G(x, x0 ) = − π2l2 1
i=1 n2 sin( nπl x ) sin( nπl x )
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Table of Contents

1 Motivations for Green’s functions

2 A one-dimensional example

3 Some general properties of Green’s functions

4 A two-dimensional example

5 A three-dimensional example
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Green’s functions: general properties
(x0 −l)
(
l x x < x0
Keep as template: G(x, x0 ) = (x−l) 0
l x x > x0

Following properties are true of Green’s functions in general:

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Table of Contents

1 Motivations for Green’s functions

2 A one-dimensional example

3 Some general properties of Green’s functions

4 A two-dimensional example

5 A three-dimensional example
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2-D example: the wave equation
Already seen this wave equation: And the corresponding Green’s fn defn:
∇2 φ(r) + k 2 φ(r) = f (r) ∇2 G(r, r0 ) + k 2 G(r, r0 ) = −δ(r, r0 )

In polar coordinates: ∇2 =
To solve, start with r0 = 0 and consider r > 0
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2-D example: polar coordinates soln
d y2 dy
Our eqn: Bessel’s eqn: x2 dx 2 2
2 + x dx + (x − α )y = 0

Solns are: Jα (x) Yα (x)

(1) (2)
Also: Hα (x) Hα (x)

General soln:
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2-D example: boundary conditions
Which form of the solution to take, and why? What have we not considered so far?
(1) (2)
G(r) = aH0 (kr) + bH0 (kr) But at large r?
q q
(1) 2 (2)
H0 (x) ≈ πx exp(j(x − π4 )) H0 (x) ≈ πx2
exp(−j(x − π4 ))

Finally, G(r) =
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2-D example: evaluating constants
How do we evaluate b? Recall: ∇2 G(r) + k 2 G(r) = −δ(r)

Term (a):

Term (b):
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2-D example: evaluating constants
2 + k 2 G(r)] dS =
R R
How do we evaluate b? Recall: S [∇ G(r) S −δ(r) dS

Term (c):

Putting it all together:

G(r) =
Finally, G(r, r0 ) =
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2-D example: visualizing the wave

[X,Y] = meshgrid(-15:0.25:15,-15:0.25:15);
R = sqrt(X.^2+Y.^2); BJ = besselj(0,R);
surf(X,Y,BJ)
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Table of Contents

1 Motivations for Green’s functions

2 A one-dimensional example

3 Some general properties of Green’s functions

4 A two-dimensional example

5 A three-dimensional example
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3-D example: the wave equation
Same (wave) equation: ∇2 G(r) + k 2 G(r) = −δ(r) Set r0 = 0

In spherical polar coordinates, r−depn terms are: ∇2 =

Simplifying for r > 0:

Solving: Boundary conditions?

Final form:
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3-D example: evaluating the constant
Integrate both sides: ∇2 G(r) + k 2 G(r) = −δ(r)

First term:

Second term:

Final expression:
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Topics that were covered in this module

1 Motivations for Green’s functions

2 A one-dimensional example

3 Some general properties of Green’s functions

4 A two-dimensional example

5 A three-dimensional example

Reference: Ch 14 of Advanced Engineering Electromagnetics, Balanis