Module I: Electromagnetic waves

Lecture 3: Time dependent EM fields: relaxation,

propagation
Amol Dighe
TIFR, Mumbai

Outline

Relaxation to a stationary state

Electromagnetic waves

Propagating plane wave

Decaying plane wave

Coming up...

Relaxation to a stationary state

Electromagnetic waves

Propagating plane wave

Decaying plane wave

Stationary and non-stationary states

Stationary state, by definition, means that the currents are

steady and there is no net charge movement, i.e.
~Js = 0

or

=0
t

(1)

These statements are equivalent, due to continuity.

I

If the initial distribution of charges and currents does not satisfy

the above criteria, they will redistribute themselves so that a
stationary state is reached.

This process of relaxation happens over a time scale that is

characteristic of the medium, called the relaxation time.

Relaxation time
I

~ = , gives
The continuity equation, combining with D

~
D
= ~J
t

~ = E
~ and ~J = E,
~
Using D
(1 +

 ~
)J = 0
t

(3)

The solution to this differential equation is

~J = ~Js + (~J0 ~Js )et/
where J0 is the initial current distribution

(2)

= / is the relaxation time

I
t

~ = ~J/, etc. relax at the same rate.

= ~J, E

(4)

Coming up...

Relaxation to a stationary state

Electromagnetic waves

Propagating plane wave

Decaying plane wave

Time-dependent electric field

I

No free charges, no external EMF sources. Maxwell

~
( E)
~ 2 E
~
( E)

(5)
(6)

This gives the second order partial differential equation

~
2 E

~
( H)
t
~

E
= (~Jfr +  )
t
t
=

~
~
E
2E
 2 = 0
t
t

(7)

2
~
Depending on whether the ( 2 E/t
) term dominates or the
~
( E/t)
one, well get two different extremes of behaviour. The
former will lead to a propagating wave, the latter will lead to a
diffusion equation, corresponding to a decaying wave.

~ ~x)eit
Looking for solution of the form E(
I

The differential equation becomes

~ +  2 (1 +
2 E

(8)

There are two time scales here: 1/ and = /

~ +  2 (1 +
2 E

i ~
)E = 0


i ~
)E = 0

(9)

When >> 1,
~ +  2 E
~ =0
2 E

(10)

which is a wave propagating with speed c = 1/ 

I

When << 1,
i ~
E=0
(11)
c2
which is the equation for diffusion. In the context of EM waves,
this will lead to a decaying solution.
~+
2 E

we shall explore these behaviours in detail now.

Coming up...

Relaxation to a stationary state

Electromagnetic waves

Propagating plane wave

Decaying plane wave

~
Propagating (plane wave) solution for E
I

>> 1 displacement current dominates over conduction

current
~ +  2 E
~ + i E
~ =0
2 E
(12)

Plane wave: all fields are functions of the distance of a plane

is the normal to this plane.
from the origin. n

(/)
n

Maxwells equations in this language:

~
D
=0,

~
B

n
=0,

~
~
E
B
=

t
~
~
H
D

n
=

(13)
(14)

~ and B
~
Longitudinal components of E
~ k : longitudinal component of E
~
E
~
~
with the ( H/)
( D/)
equation and dot product of n
equation
~ n
~ n

E
E
=0,
=0
(15)

t
~ k is a constant.
I For non-conducting media (e.g. vacuum), E
I

~ k : longitudinal component of B
~
B
~
~
with the ( E/)
( B/)
equation and dot product of n
equation
~ n
~ n

B
B
=0,
=0
(16)

t
~ is possible, i.e. B
~k
I Only stationary longitudinal component of B
is constant (note: we have taken = 0 )
I

~ and B
~
Transverse components of E
I

equations:
Combining the two n
(
n

~
~
2E
2E
 2 ) = 0
2

(17)

~ = E
~ n

Differential equation for E

~ = E
~ ,0 [f ( ut) + g( + ut)]
I General solution: E
I

~ is sinusoidal:
If E
~ = E
~ ,0 ei(tk )
E

Direction of propagation ~k
~ = E
~ ,0 ei(~k~rt)
E

(18)

(19)

~ /) = B
~ /t,
( E
Using n
~
~
~ = i B
~ B
~ = k E
i ~k E

(20)

Propagating wave in short

~ k and B
~ k are constants in space and time, hence not
E
interesting for wave propagation

~ and B
~ can have ei(~k~rt) dependence, with B
~ = (~k/) E
~
E

~ and B
~ fields are transverse to the direction of motion, and also
E
orthogonal to each other.

Coming up...

Relaxation to a stationary state

Electromagnetic waves

Propagating plane wave

Decaying plane wave

Decaying plane wave

I

When << 1, conduction current dominates over

displacement current
~ +  2 E
~ + i E
~ =0
2 E

~ 0 ei(kxt) implies
The solution of the form E
k2

i
= 2 ei/2
2
c
c
r
r


i/4

1+i

e
=
c2
c2
2

(22)
(23)

This gives
~ =E
~ 0 ei(Re(k )xt) eIm(k )x
E

(21)

(24)

The wave then decays with a eIm(k )x dependence inside the

conducting medium.

Skin depth in metals

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For metals, 1014 sec. So for < 1014 , conduction current

dominates.

A wave incident on a metallic surface will decay as

~ = |E
~ 0 |er /
|E|
where, from the last page, (check factor of 2)
r
r
2c 2
2
=
=

(25)

(26)

Within a distance from the surface of the metal, the wave would
decrease in magnitude by a factor 1/e. This is the skin depth
of the metal. The surface currents will flow within this width.

Ideal conductor 0.

Recap of topics covered in this lecture

Relaxation to stationary state, relaxation time

Electromagnetic wave: displacement current and conduction

current

Transverse electromagnetic field solutions for a propagating

wave

Decay of EM waves in a condunctor, skin depth