The Electrostatics (es) interface (), found under the AC/DC branch () when adding a physics interface, is used to compute the electric field, electric displacement field, and potential distributions in dielectrics under conditions where the electric charge distribution is explicitly prescribed. The formulation is stationary except for use together with other physics interfaces. Eigenfrequency, frequency-domain, small-signal analysis, and time-domain modeling are supported in all space dimensions.

When this physics interface is added, these default nodes are also added to the Model Builder — Charge Conservation, Zero Charge (the default boundary condition), and Initial Values. Then, from the Physics toolbar, add other nodes that implement, for example, boundary conditions and space charges. You can also right-click Electrostatics to select physics features from the context menu.

The Label is the default physics interface name.

The Name is used primarily as a scope prefix for variables defined by the physics interface. Refer to such physics interface variables in expressions using the pattern <name>.<variable_name>. In order to distinguish between variables belonging to different physics interfaces, the name string must be unique. Only letters, numbers, and underscores (_) are permitted in the Name field. The first character must be a letter.

The default Name (for the first physics interface in the model) is es.

For 1D components, enter a default value for the Cross-section area A (SI unit: m2). The default value of 1 is typically not representative for a thin domain. Instead it describes a unit thickness that makes the 1D equation identical to the equation used for 3D components. See also Change Cross Section.

For 2D components, enter a default value for the Out-of-plane thickness d (SI unit: m). The default value of 1 is typically not representative for a thin dielectric medium, for example. Instead it describes a unit thickness that makes the 2D equation identical to the equation used for 3D components. See also Change Thickness (Out-of-Plane).

Select the Enable check box to allow the physics interface to control the meshing process. Information from the physics, such as the presence of an infinite elements domain or periodic condition, will be used to set up automatically an appropriate mesh sequence.

The dependent variable is the Electric potential V. You can change its name, which changes both the field name and the variable name. If the new name coincides with the name of another electric potential field in the model, the physics interfaces shares degrees of freedom. The new name must not coincide with the name of a field of another type or with a component name belonging to some other field.

To display all settings available in this section, click the Show button () and select Advanced Physics Options.