SUMMARYIn the present paper we first introduce the Hertz vector potential and examine how the specific case of electromagnetic field diffusion problems can be formulated in terms of this potential. Its connection to other commonly used potentials is presented and a basic approach in the form of a suitable set of equations is introduced. The suggested method is then successfully applied to solve the case of an electromagnetic interaction between a straight conductor carrying sinusoidal current and a finite thickness fixed plate. Due to the oscillatory aspect of the integral solution obtained, an appropriate numerical treatment is investigated and various curves are shown to illustrate the convergence behaviour.