1.

Charge Conservation
The Charge Conservation node adds the equations for charge conservation according to Gauss law for the electric displacement field. The Charge Conservation page contains these sections for defining the related material properties: To display additional features for the physics interface feature nodes (and the physics interfaces), click the Show button ( ) on the Model Builder and then select the applicable option. DOMAIN SELECTION Select the domains where you want to define the electric potential and the equation based on Gauss law that describes the potential field. MODEL INPUTS This section contains field variables that appear as model inputs, if the current settings include such model inputs. By default, this section is empty. COORDINATE SYSTEM SELECTION The Global coordinate system is selected by default. The Coordinate system list contains any additional coordinate systems that the model includes. ELECTRIC FIELD Select a Constitutive relation to describe the macroscopic properties of the medium (relating the electric displacement D with the electric field E) and the applicable material properties, such as the relative permittivity. Select: - Relative permittivity to use the constitutive relation D = 0rE (the default). - Polarization to use the constitutive relation D = 0E + P. - Remanent displacement to use constitutive relation D = 0rE + Dr, where Dr is the remanent displacement (the displacement when no electric field is present). * If Relative permittivity is selected, the default is to take the Relative permittivity (r) values From material. If User defined is selected, select Isotropic, Diagonal, Symmetric, or Anisotropic and enter values or expressions in the field or matrix. * If Polarization is selected, enter components (3 in 3D, 2 in 2D) for the Polarization vector P (SI unit: C/m2). * If Remanent displacement is selected, the default is to take the Relative permittivity (er) values From material. If User defined is selected, select Isotropic, Diagonal, Symmetric, or Anisotropic and enter values or expressions in the field or matrix. Then enter components (3 in 3D, 2 in 2D) for the Remanent displacement Dr (SI unit: C/m2).

2. Zero Charge
The Zero Charge node adds the condition that there is zero charge on the boundary so that n.D = 0. This boundary condition is also applicable at symmetry boundaries where the potential is known to be symmetric with respect to the boundary. This is the default boundary condition at exterior boundaries. At interior boundaries, it means that no displacement field can penetrate the boundary and that the electric potential is discontinuous across the boundary.

BOUNDARY SELECTION Select the boundaries where you want to apply a zero charge condition. PAIR SELECTION If Zero Charge is selected from the Pairs submenu, select the boundary pair where you want to define this feature. First an identity pair may have to be created.

3. Initial Values
The Initial Values node adds an initial value for the electric potential V that can serve as an initial condition for a transient simulation or as an initial guess for a nonlinear solver. DOMAIN SELECTION Select the domains where you want to define an initial value. INITIAL VALUES Enter a value or expression for the initial value of the Electric potential V. The default value is 0 V.

4. Electric Potential
The Electric Potential node provides an electric potential V0 as the boundary condition V = V 0. Because you are solving for the electric potential in this interface, you typically define the value of the potential at some part of the geometry. For some interfaces, also select additional Electric Potential features from the Edges (3D models) or Points (2D and 3D models) submenus. BOUNDARY, EDGE, OR POINT SELECTION Select the geometric entity (boundaries, edges, or points) where you want to apply an electric potential as the boundary condition. Note: Beware that constraining the potential on edges or points in 3D or on points in 2D usually yields a current outflow that is mesh dependent. PAIR SELECTION If Electric Potential is selected from the Pairs submenu, select the boundary pair where you want to define this feature. First an identity pair may have to be created. ELECTRIC POTENTIAL Enter the value or expression for the Electric potential V0 (SI unit: V).

5. Ground
The Ground node is the default boundary condition and implements ground as the boundary condition V = 0. Ground means that there is a zero potential on the boundary. This boundary condition is also applicable at symmetry boundaries where the potential is known to be antisymmetric with respect to the boundary. BOUNDARY, EDGE, OR POINT SELECTION

Select the geometric entity (boundaries, edges, or points) where you want to apply a ground (zero potential) boundary condition. For some interfaces, also select additional Ground features from the Edges (3D models) or Points (2D and 3D models) submenus. Note: Beware that constraining the potential on edges or points in 3D or on points in 2D usually yields a current outflow that is mesh dependent. PAIR SELECTION If Ground is selected from the Pairs submenu, select the boundary pair where you want to define this feature. First an identity pair may have to be created. CONSTRAINT SETTINGS To display this section, click the Show button ( ) and select Advanced Physics Interface Options. See Show Advanced Physics Interface Options in the COMSOL Multiphysics Users Guide. Select a Constraint typeBidirectional, symmetric or Unidirectional. If required, select the Use weak constraints check box.

6. Space Charge Density

The Space Charge Density node adds a space charge density , which appears on the right-hand side of the equation that the Electrostatics interface defines. DOMAIN SELECTION Select the domains where you want to define a current source. SPACE CHARGE DENSITY Enter a value or expression for the Space charge density (SI unit: C/m3).

7. Dielectric Shielding
The Dielectric Shielding node provides a dielectric shielding boundary condition. It describes a thin layer with thickness ds and a bulk relative permittivity; rs that shields the electric field:
n.D = t .0 rs d s V t

You can use this boundary condition when approximating a thin domain with a boundary to reduce the number of mesh elements. BOUNDARY OR EDGE SELECTION Select the boundaries or edges (3D models) where you want to apply a dielectric shielding as the condition. PAIR SELECTION If Dielectric Shielding is selected from the Pairs submenu, select the boundary pair where you want to define this feature. First an identity pair may have to be created. COORDINATE SYSTEM SELECTION The Global coordinate system is selected by default. The Coordinate system list contains any additional coordinate systems that the model includes. ELECTRIC FIELD

The default is to take the Relative permittivity r (unitless) values From material. If User defined is selected, select Isotropic, Diagonal, Symmetric, or Anisotropic and enter values or expressions in the field or matrix. THIN LAYER Enter a Surface thickness ds of the shielding (SI unit: m).

8. Terminal
The Terminal node provides a boundary condition for connection to external circuits or with a specified voltage or charge. By specifying zero charge, a floating potential condition is obtained. BOUNDARY SELECTION Select the boundaries that you want to model as terminals connected to external circuits or an external charge or voltage. PAIR SELECTION If Terminal is selected from the Pairs submenu, select the boundary pair where you want to define this feature. First an identity pair may have to be created. TERMINAL Specify the terminals properties. To indicate which boundaries that belong to the same terminal, enter the same name in the Terminal name field. The Terminal name should be numeric for port sweeps to work properly. Select a Terminal typeVoltage, Charge, or Circuit. Select: Voltage to enter an electric potential V0 (SI unit: V). Charge to enter a charge Q0 (SI unit: C). The default is zero charge for an electrode at floating potential. Circuit to specify a terminal connected to an external circuit.

9. Displacement Field
The Displacement Field node provides the following electric-displacement boundary condition: It specifies the normal component of the electric displacement field at a boundary. BOUNDARY SELECTION Select the boundaries where you want to use the normal component of the displacement field as the boundary condition. PAIR SELECTION If Displacement Field is selected from the Pairs submenu, select the boundary pair where you want to define this feature. First an identity pair may have to be created. COORDINATE SYSTEM SELECTION The Global coordinate system is selected by default. The Coordinate system list contains any additional coordinate systems that the model includes. DISPLACEMENT FIELD Enter the coordinates of the Boundary displacement field D0 (SI unit: C/m2).

10. Distributed Capacitance

The Distributed Capacitance node adds a distributed capacitance boundary condition according to the following equations for exterior boundaries (left) and interior boundaries (right):

You can use this boundary condition to model a thin sheet or film of a dielectric material. The sheet has the relative permittivity rL and the surface thickness dL, and it is connected to the reference potential Vref. BOUNDARY SELECTION Select the boundaries where you want to apply a distributed capacitance. PAIR SELECTION If Distributed Capacitance is selected from the Pairs submenu, select the boundary pair where you want to define this feature. First an identity pair may have to be created. DISTRIBUTED CAPACITANCE Enter the values or expressions for Relative permittivity er, Surface thickness ds (SI unit: m), and Reference potential Vref (SI unit: V). The default value for the surface thickness is 103 m (1 mm).

11. Thin Low Permittivity Gap

Use the Thin Low Permittivity Gap condition to model a thin gap of a material with a small permittivity compared to the adjacent domains. The layer has the thickness dL and the relative permittivity rL. The indices 1 and 2 refer to the two sides of the boundary.

BOUNDARY SELECTION Select the boundaries where you want to apply a thin low permittivity gap condition. THIN LOW PERMITTIVITY GAP Enter a Thickness d (SI unit: m). The default is to take the Relative permittivity (er) values From material. Select User defined to enter a different value or expression.