PEU 308- Problem Set 1 Solutions

Problem 1 A plane electromagnetic wave of intensity I falls upon a glass plate with index of
refraction n. The wave vector is at right angles to the surface (normal incidence).
(a) Show that the coefficient of reflection (of the intensity) at normal incidence is given by
(n − 1)2
R=
(n + 1)2
for a single interfacae
(b) Neglecting any interference effects calculate the radiation pressure acting on the plate in terms
of I and n.
Solution
First, we need to illustratethe wave vectors pf the incident, reflected and refracted waves as shown
below,

Secondly, we need to express the incident, reflected and refracted wave as a plane waves.
So, let the incident, reflected and refracted electromagnetic waves be represented by
−
→−→
E = E0 ei( k . x −ωt)
−
→0 −
.→
E 0 = E00 ei( k x −ωt)

−
→00 .−
→
E 00 = E000 ei(k x −ωt)

q glass is very nearly equal to that of the vacuum µ = µ0 . The

Note that, the permiability of the
index of refraction of glass is n = εε0 . Where ε is the permittivity of the glass.

(a) A plane electromagnetic wave can be decomposed into two polarized components with mu-
tually perpendicular planes of polarization. In the interface we take an arbitrary direction as the z
direction, and the direction perpendicular to it as the y direction, and decompose the incident wave
into two polarized components with E parallel to these two directions. We also decompose the
reflected and refracted waves in a similar manner.

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 x-polarization y-polarization
Ex , Hy Ey , −Hx
Ex0 , −Hy0 Ey0 , Hx0
Ex00 , Hy00 Ex00 , −Hy00
The boundary condition that Et and Ht are continuous across the interface gives for the x-
polarization
Ex + Ex0 = Ex00 (1)
Hy − Hy0 = Hy00 (2)
√ √ q
For a plane wave we have µ|H| = ε|E|. With µ ' µ0 and n = εε0 .
Now equation 2 could be written as:

Ex − Ex0 = nEx00 (3)

From equation 1 and 3, we get:

1−n
Ex0 = ( )Ex
1+n
Since for normal incidence, the plane of incidence is arbitrary, the same result holds for y-polarization.
Hence for normal incidence, we have
1−n
E0 = ( )E
1+n
The intensity of a wave is given by the magnitude of the Poynting vector S over one period. We
have
1
S = ReE × ReH = (E × H + E∗ × H∗ + E × H∗ + E∗ × H)
4
As the first two terms in the last expression contain the time factor e±2iωt , they vanish on taking
average over one period. Hence the intensity is
r
1 ∗ 1 ∗ 1 ε 2
I = hSi = Re|E × H | = EH = E
2 2 2 µ 0

E0 is the amplitude of the electric field.

Therefore the coefficient of reflection is
2
E 02

1−n
R = 02 =
E0 1+n

(b)The average momentum density of a wave is given by g = hSi

v2
= vI2 .
So the average momentum impinging normally on a unit area per unit time is gv. The radiation
pressure exerted on the glass plate is therefore,

2
 P = gc − (−g 0 c) − g 00 v
g 0 g 00 v
 
= gc 1 + −
g g c
0 c I 00
 
I I
= 1+ −
c I v I

Adding equations 1 and 3, we get:

E000 2
=
E0 1+n
or
I 00 ε E0002 4n
r
=
I ε E02 (1 + n)2
With 2
I0

1−n
=
I 1+n
We have,

I0 c I 00
 
I
P = 1+ −
c I v I
" #
1−n 2 4n2
 
I
= 1+ −
c 1+n (1 + n)2
 
I 1−n
=2
c 1+n

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Problem 2 (a) On the basis of Maxwell’s equations, and taking into account the appropriate
boundary conditions for an air-dielectric interface, show that the reflecting power of glass of index
2
of refraction n for electromagnetic waves at normal incidence is R = (n−1)
(n+1)2
.
(b) Also show that there is no reflected wave if the incident light is polarized as shown in Figure
below, (i.e., with the electric vector in the plane of incidence) and if tan θ1 = n, where θ1 is the
abgle of [Link] can regard it as well-known that Fresnel’s law holds.

Solution
(a) Same as part a in problem 1.
(b)For waves with the electric vector in the plane of incidence, the following Resnel’s formula
applies,
E2 tan(θ3 − θ1 )
=
E1 tan(θ3 + θ1 )
When θ3 + θ1 = π2 , E2 = 0, the reflected wave vanishes.
Snell’s law gives,
sin θ1 = n sin θ3 = n cos θ1
or
tan θ1 = n
Hence no reflection occurs if the incidence angle is θ1 = tan−1 n

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Problem 3 A plane polarized electromagnetic wave travelling in a dielectric medium of refrac-
tive index n is reflected at normal incidence from the surface of a conductor. Find the phase change
undergone by its electric vector if the refractive index of the conductor is n2 = n(1 + iρ).

Solution
For normal incidence the plane of incidence is arbitrary. So we can take the electric vector as in
the plane of the diagram below,

The incident wave is represented by,

E1 = E10 ei(k1 z−ωt) ,

B1 = B10 ei(k1 z−ωt) ,

n ω
B10 = E10 , k1 = n
c c
the reflected wave by
E2 = E20 e−i(k2 z−ωt) ,
B2 = B20 e−i(k2 z−ωt) ,
n ω
B20 = E20 , k2 = n
c c
and the transmitted wave by
E3 = E30 ei(k3 z−ωt) ,
B3 = B30 ei(k3 z−ωt) ,
n ω
B30 = E30 , k3 = n2
c c
The boundary condition at the interface is that Et and Ht are continous.
Thus,
E10 − E20 = E30 (1)
µ
B10 + B20 = B30 ' B30 (2)
µ2

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 Assuming the media to be non-ferromagnetic so that µ ' µ2 ' µ0 .

Equation 2, could be written as:

n2
E10 + E20 = E30 (3)
n
From eq 1 and 3, we can get:
n2 − n inρ ρ
E20 = E10 = E10 = p eiφ E10
n2 + n 2n + inρ 2
ρ +4

With tan φ = ρ2 .
The phase shift of the electric vector of the reflected wave with respect to that of the incident wave
is therefore  
−1 2
φ = tan
ρ

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Problem 4 Given a plane polarized electric wave
n h n io
E = E0 exp iω t − (K.r)
c
derive from Maxwell’s equations the relations between E, K and the H field. Obtain an expression
for the index of refraction n in terms of ω, ε, µ, σ (the conductivity).
Solution
Maxwell’s equations for a charge-free ohmic conducting medium are

∂
∇×E=− B (1)
∂t
∂
∇×H=J+ D (2)
∂t
∇.D = 0 (3)
∇.B = 0 (4)
with
D = εE, B = µH, J = σE
For the given type of wave we have

∂ nω
→ iω, ∇ → −i K
∂t c
From equations 3 and 4, we have
E.K = B.K = 0
Euqtion 1 gives,
nω
i K × E = iωµH
c
or,
n
H= K×E
µc
Taking curl of both sides of (1) and using (2) and (3) we have,

∂E ∂2E
∇2 E = µσ + µε 2
∂t ∂t
or
 µσ  ∂ 2 E
∇2 E − µσ − i =0
ω ∂t2
which is the equation for a wave propagating with phase velocity v given by
 µσ −1
v 2 = µσ − i
ω

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Hence the index of refraction of the medium is
   1
c µε iσ 2
n= = 1−
v µ 0 ε0 ωε
q
Now, you have to write it as follow, n = µµε 0 ε0
(β − iα)
You will get this final folmula for the index of refraction,
s s 
r  2
1  2
1
µε  σ 2 σ 2
n= 1+ 2 2 +1−i 1+ 2 2 −1
µ 0 ε0 ε ω ε ω