Electromagnetic interface jump conditions
For a stationary interface with unit normal n from medium 1 to 2, n·(D₂−D₁)=σ_free, n·(B₂−B₁)=0, n×(E₂−E₁)=0 and n×(H₂−H₁)=K_free.
Key knowledge
For a stationary interface with unit normal n from medium 1 to 2, n·(D₂−D₁)=σ_free, n·(B₂−B₁)=0, n×(E₂−E₁)=0 and n×(H₂−H₁)=K_free. They follow from shrinking the integral Maxwell-law surface or loop across the interface.
Values and equations
n·(D₂−D₁)=σ_free; n·(B₂−B₁)=0; n×(E₂−E₁)=0; n×(H₂−H₁)=K_free
- n
- Unit normal from medium 1 to 2
- D_i,σ_free
- Displacement and free surface charge C m⁻²
- B_i
- Magnetic flux density T
- E_i
- Electric field V m⁻¹
- H_i,K_free
- Magnetic strength and free surface current A m⁻¹
Conditions and scope
- Finite regular bulk fields and no singular magnetic surface sources; n is explicitly oriented from 1 to 2.
- Moving interfaces, singular ideal dipole layers or additional distributional sources need their corresponding jump formulation.
Sources · 1
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
Electromagnetics 6.013: Lecture 2: Slides L2-7, L2-8 and L2-10: normal/tangential pillbox-loop derivation and summary; medium numbering and normal changed consistently.
2026-10-10 · Independent AI editorial review: All 136 unique authored Physics compact statements, all hypotheses and displayed equations/variable/units tables, all 192 Physics-origin semantic links, exact 165 author inspection matrix and mapped retained conceptual claims have been independently read. Three Physics-tagged Measurement realization records are delegated to root Measurement review. Scientific source verification combines exact author section inspection with independent whole compact-content/semantic review and targeted primary rechecks recorded below; it does not claim each full source body was independently reread. Independent AI editorial review is not human specialist certification or experimental replication. Field inventory is approved after independently reviewing the two added source-inspected band-construction methods. Receipt: physics-independent-content-inventory-review.1.
Entry details
Permanent link to this entry ↗- Record identity
- physics-electromagnetic-interface
- Revision
- university-core.1
- Structured reference record
- University core expansion