www.jntuworld.com www.jwjobs.

net

E M Waves and Transmission Lines Unit 4

Lecture Notes 31
Wave equations in free space

Wave equation in free space are given by

∆ 2 E = µ 0 ∈0 E
∆ 2 H = µ 0 ∈0 H

∂2E
where E =
∂t 2
and
∂2H
H=
∂t 2

Proof Free space is characterized by

∈r = 1, µ r = 1 or ∈=∈0 , µ = µ 0 , and σ = 0, ρυ = 0 and J = 0. Due to these
characteristics of free space, Maxwell’s second equation becomes,

∇ × E = −B
= −µ 0 H [as B = µ 0 H ]
Taking curl on both sides, we get
∇ × ∇ × E = −µ 0∇ × H
Using standard vector identity, LHS is given by
∇ × ∇ × E = −∇∇.E − ∇ 2 E
and for the first Maxwell’s equation, RHS is
− µ0∇× H = −µ0 D = −µ0 ∈0 E
∇∇.E − ∇ 2 E = − µ 0 ∈0 E

But ∇.D = ∇. ∈0 E =∈0 ∇.E = 0

∇ 2 E =∈0 µ 0 E Hence proved.

Now consider the first Maxwell’s equation

∇ × H =∈0 E

Taking curl on both sides

T. Sreedhar, ECE, GMRIT.

www.jntuworld.com
www.jntuworld.com www.jwjobs.net

E M Waves and Transmission Lines Unit 4

Lecture Notes 31
∇ × ∇ × H =∈0 ∇ × E

∇∇.H − ∇ 2 H =∈0 (− B ) = − µ 0 ∈0 H

∇ 2 H = µ 0 ∈0 H [as ∇.H = 0]

Hence proved.

T. Sreedhar, ECE, GMRIT.

www.jntuworld.com