Chapter 5; UEMPW

A time varying electric field, by the Ampere-Maxwell law, generates a (potentially time varying) magnetic field. Which in turn, by Faraday's law, generates
a (potentially time varying) electric field, and so forth. This results in the creation of electromagnetic waves.
The behavior of EM waves depends on the material/medium through which they propagate

Note ​
→ →
D = ϵE,
→ →
B = μH ,
→
J = σE
→
ϵ is the permittivity, μ is the permeability, and σ is the conductivity of the material/medium.
The medium is called homogeneous if ϵ, μ and σ do not change with space.
→ and E
The medium is called isotropic if D → are parallel, and H
→ and B
→ are parallel. In other words, isotropic means ϵ and μ are numbers and not
tensors.
We will only deal with homogeneous and isotropic media.

A perfect dielectric/insulator is material with zero conductivity; σ = 0

A perfect conductor is material with infinite conductivity; σ = ∞
A medium is called Lossy if it has non zero conductivity. The latter, σ, causes electromagnetic waves to decay, and hence dissipate their energy (as heat,
for example).
Lossless media, like perfect dielectrics or free space have zero conductivity. They allow EM waves to propagate without absorption of energy.
A medium is called sourceless if the source quantities ρ and J→ are zero throughout the medium.
v c

Main assumptions
Through out the chapter, we assume;

We assume that the electric and magnetic fields depend only on z and t;

dE → dE → dH→ dH →
= = = = 0
dx dy dx dy

We assume that the electric field vectors follow the direction of x →

^; E = Ex x
^ . (E is a function of z and t)
x

We assume that the electric and magnetic fields vary sinusoidally with time; We could write either as A(z, t) = A(z) sin(ωt + ϕ).

Note ​
ϕ is independent of time, but it can be a function of space; ϕ = ϕ(z).

An electric field vector at some fixed position in space, z = z , varies sinusoidally with time.
0

→
Under our assumptions, it turns out that the magnetic field must be polarized in the y^ direction; H ^
= Hy y

We start with studying EM waves in perfect dielectrics or vacuums.

EM waves in a perfect dielectric or free space (σ = 0)

In a perfect dielectric or free space, the electric and magnetic fields will take the forms;

→
E = E 0 cos(wt ± βz) x
^ and →
H = H 0 cos(wt ± βz) y
^

A negative sign corresponds to a wave moving in the positive z direction, whereas a positive sign appears for waves moving in the direction of −^
z (β is a

positive quantity).

Note ​
→ and H
Note that, naturally, these waves can have a constant phase shift depending on the reference time and frame. If at t = 0 and z = 0, E → do not
equal E and H respectively, then one should work with
0 0

→
E = E 0 cos(wt ± βz + ϕ 0 ) x
^ and →
H = H 0 cos(wt ± βz + ϕ 0 ) y
^

Example ​

→
To understand, we plot an example. Focus on the electric field, E ^
= E 0 cos(wt − βz) x .

→ , we only draw it on the z axis.

Because all points (x, y, z) with the same z coordinate yield the same E
As shown, E→ always points in either x ^ or −x
^.

For each moment in time t = K = constant

→
, there is a corresponding sinusoidal electric field along the z axis. (E ^. As time
= E 0 cos(wK − βz)x)

increases, this wave shifts across the z axis in the positive direction, its direction of travel/propagation.
As time varies, for each z, the electric field vector would oscillate between E and −E 0 0
 The magnetic field varies similarly with z and t but with vectors directed in the y direction;

→ ^
H = H 0 cos(wt − βz)y

In phase with the electric field.

Note that the direction of travel, +^ → and H
z, and the directions of E → are all perpendicular to each other.
It's called a plane wave because in any plane z = constant, the electric and magnetic fields have constant values. Because this plane is the
transverse plane (the plane whose normal is the direction of travel), we call this wave a transverse electromagnetic wave.
Just like ω, the angular frequency, measures the phase shift per unit time (rad/s), β measures the phase shift per unit distance (along the z axis,
rad/m ), and it's called the phase constant. It controls how quickly the wave oscillates in space (with z);
Just like T = 2π/ω measures the time period for each oscillating vector, the wavelength λ is the distance Δz needed for the wave to repeat it self;

2π
λ = = the distance between two consecutive peaks in either wave
β

The speed with which this EM wave propagates is called the phase velocity denoted v ; p

ω rad/s
vp = ( = m/s)
β rad/m

β = ω√μϵ = ω√μ 0 ϵ 0 √μ r ϵ r = β 0 √μ r ϵ r . (β is the phase constant in free space)

0

ω ω 1
vp = = =
β ω√μϵ √μϵ

Light is but an electromagnetic wave. In free space the speed of light is c = 1

√μ 0 ϵ O
≈ 3 × 10 m/s
8

Note that

1 1 1/√ μ 0 ϵ 0 c
vp = = = =
√ μϵ √μ 0 ϵ 0 √μ r ϵ r √μ r ϵ r √μ r ϵ r

and

2π 2π λ0
λ = = =
β β 0 √μ r ϵ r √μ r ϵ r

Since √μ ϵ is always > 1, the phase velocity and wavelength in any medium are always less than they are in free space. When electromagnetic waves
r r

from free space enter a different medium, they slow down and the wavelength shortens.

Note ​
This means that the speed of light is is as fast as electromagnetic waves (in fact, anything whatsoever!) can travel.

Phasor representation
Since we are dealing with sinusoidal waves, we can represent stuff in phasor notation;

→
E = R{E s e → jωt
} and →
H = R{H s e → jωt
}

→ and H
Note that E → do not depend on time, only space.
s s

Example ​
→ = 30 cos(ωt − 0.07z)x
If E →
^, then E s
= 30e
−0.07z
x
^ . This way we get;

→
E = R{E s e
→ jωt
} = R{30e
−0.07z
e
jwt
^
x} = R{30e
j(wt−0.07z)
^
x}

= R{30 cos(ωt − 0.07z)x

^ + j 30 sin(ωt − 0.07z)x}
^

= 30 cos(ωt − 0.07z)x
^

Using phasor notation, Maxwell's equations in a sourceless medium become;

 (To remember, just replace d/dt by jω).

reaches e

ϵ
′′

′
Note ​
Understand that in lossless media where σ = 0 and hence ϵ

Our sinusoidal electric and magnetic fields satisfy the Helmholtz equation;

Where k = ω√μϵ = ω√μϵ √1 − j ′ ϵ

Which yields the EM wave in a perfect dielectric.

For lossy media;

Note

Note
−1
≈ 0.37

A medium is low loss iff

A medium is high loss iff

​
ϵ
′

The intrinsic impedance of a medium is generally;

σ ≠ 0

of its value at t = 0:

ϵ
′′

ϵ
′′
≪ 1

≫ 1

The intrinsic impedance of free space is, η

​
′′

⇔
ϵ

ϵ
σ = 0

′′

→×H
The direction of travel of an EMPW is always in the direction of E →
≠ 0

0
ϵ = ϵ − jϵ

⇔
2
∇ Es + k

(which also equals ω√μϵ √1 − j

The general solution to the Helmholtz equation yields the EM waves in any medium;

Note ​
′

For α > 0 (lossy medium), the wave loses magnitude as z increases; α is called the attenuation constant.

η =

= √

Note that in lossy media, that because η is a complex number, E and H are no longer in phase.

Generally, if the UEMP wave travels in the direction of k

^, then;
μ0

ϵ0

→
E xs

H ys
→

α = R{jk} = ω√

β = I{jk} = ω√

= 377Ω
ϵ

α ≠ 0

E s = η(H s × k)
′′

′
′′

= 0

= √
′

→
Es = 0

E(z, t) = E 0 e

ϵ
⇔
→

= √

→
→
∇ × H

→
∇ ⋅ Es = 0

→ →
∇ ⋅ Hs = 0

Using phasor notation allows us to deal with EM waves in lossy media easily (notice how they helped convert differential equations into algebraic
equations).

EM waves in lossy media (σ ≠ 0)

First note that in this general case, we let ϵ be a complex number;

ωϵ

μϵ ⎛

2
′
→
∇ × E s = −jωμH s

= ϵ 0 (ϵ r − jϵ r ) = ϵ 0 ϵ r

2
′′

→
= 0

μϵ ′ ⎛

α = 0
⎝
s

⎜⎟
′′

√1 + (

−αz

k is complex

As an electromagnetic wave hits a lossy material, it will decay. The skin depth δ is how far into the material the EM wave penetrates before its magnitude

is called the loss tangent. It determines if a lossy medium is low loss (= A dielectric), or high loss (= Good conductor)
(or, equivalently, σ ≪ ωϵ )
(or, equivalently, σ ≫ ωϵ
′
δ =

ϵ′

and
and

√
1

α
→
= jωϵE

) and jk = α + jβ.

ϵ ′′

ϵ
′
)

√1 + (

and

1 − j
1
s

→
Hs =
→

′′

′
2 →
∇ Hs + k Hs = 0

cos(ωt ± βz) x
^
ϵ

ϵ
′′

β = ω√ μϵ
and

, the permittivity ϵ happens to be a real number; ϵ = ϵ

η
2

2
− 1

+ 1

V /m

A/m

→
2
ϵ

(k × E s )
′′

1/2

1/2

= Ω)

→
=

⇔
σ

k is real
′
From this general set of equations, one could determine the special case equations by letting the loss tangent approach different values.

Note ​
′′ ′′

In practice, a material is considered low-loss if ϵ

ϵ
′
, and is considered a good conductor if
< 0.01
ϵ

ϵ
′
> 100

Some of the results in the table above were derived by expanding jk = α + jβ = jω√μϵ √1 − j ′ σ
ωϵ
′
using the binomial theorem.

Note that in a good conductor, α = β

Notice the expression of η in a good conductor; The phase of η is 45 if and only if the medium is a good conductor.
∘

Also, obviously, ω = 2πf . Idk but if you forgot about this you're cooked.