logarithmic potential

logarithmic potential

[′läg·ə‚rith·mik pə′ten·chəl] (physics) A potential function that is proportional to the logarithm of some coordinate; for example, a straight, electrically charged cylinder of circular cross section and effectively infinite length gives rise to an electrostatic potential that is the sum of a constant and a term proportional to the logarithm of the distance from the cylinder's axis.