Lecture 15

Polarization States of Plane Waves

In this lecture you will learn:

• More complex mathematics for plane waves

• Polarization states of plane waves (linear, circular, elliptical)

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Review: Maxwell’s Equations for Phasors

Time-harmonic E and H-fields are given as:
r r
[r r
E (r , t ) = Re E (r ) e j ω t ] r r
H (r , t ) = Re [ Hr (rr ) e j ω t ]
ρ (r , t ) = Re[ ρ (r ) e j ω t ]
r r r r
J (r , t ) = Re [ Jr(rr ) e j ω t ]
Maxwell’s equations for the vector phasors of time-harmonic fields are then:

Gauss’ Law:
r r r
∇ . ε o E (r ) = ρ (r )
Gauss’ Law for the Magnetic Field:
r r
∇ . µo H (r ) = 0

Faraday’s Law:
r r r r
∇ × E (r ) = − j ω µo H (r )
Ampere’s Law:
r r r v r r
∇ × H (r ) = J (r ) + j ω ε o E (r )

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Review: Plane Wave Phasors and Complex Poynting Vector
For a plane wave we know the E-field and H-field phasors to be:
r r r r
r
E (r ) = nˆ Eo e − j k .r E
k
µo
ηo = ≈ 377 Ω
r r εo
( )η
r r E
H (r ) = kˆ × nˆ o e − j k . r
H
o

The complex Poynting vector was defined as:

r r r r r r
S (r ) = E (r ) × H * (r )

The time-average power per unit area is one-half of the real part of the
complex Poynting vector
For a plane wave:
r r 1 r r
S (r , t ) = Re S (r )
2
[ ]
1
[
r r r r
= Re E (r ) × H * (r )
2
]
1 ⎡ E2 ⎤ E2
2 ⎣⎢
( ηo ⎦⎥
)
= Re ⎢nˆ × kˆ × nˆ o ⎥ = kˆ o
2 ηo
ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Review: More Calculations in the Complex Notation

Example:

Consider a plane wave with E-field of amplitude Eo and pointing in a direction

45-degrees w.r.t. the x-axis (as shown) and traveling in the +z-direction

Write expression for the E-field phasor: y

r r ⎛ xˆ + yˆ ⎞ −jkz
E (r ) = ⎜ ⎟ Eo e
E x
⎝ 2 ⎠ H
Write expression for the H-field phasor: r
r r j r r k
H (r ) = ∇ × E (r )
ω µo
r r ⎛ ⎛ xˆ + yˆ ⎞ z
j −jkz⎞
⇒ H (r ) = ∇ × ⎜⎜ ⎟ Eo e ⎟
ω µo ⎝⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎠
r r j ⎛ ⎛ x + y ⎞⎞
ˆ ˆ r
⇒ H (r ) = ⎜ − j k zˆ × ⎜ ⎟ ⎟ Eo e
−jkz
k = k zˆ
ω µo ⎝ ⎝ 2 ⎠⎠
r r k ⎛ yˆ − xˆ ⎞
⇒ H (r ) = ⎜ ⎟ Eo e
−jkz
ω µo ⎝ 2 ⎠
r r ⎛ yˆ − xˆ ⎞ Eo − j k z
⇒ H (r ) = ⎜ ⎟ e
⎝ 2 ⎠ ηo
ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Review: More Calculations in the Complex Notation - II
y
The E-field phasor is:
E x
r r ⎛ xˆ + yˆ ⎞ −jkz
E (r ) = ⎜ ⎟ Eo e H
⎝ 2 ⎠

The H-field phasor is:

r r ⎛ yˆ − xˆ ⎞ Eo − j k z
H (r ) = ⎜ ⎟ e z
⎝ 2 ⎠ ηo
Find the complex Poynting vector:
r r r r r r ⎛ xˆ + yˆ ⎞ ⎛ yˆ − xˆ ⎞ Eo2
S (r ) = E (r ) × H * (r ) = ⎜ ⎟×⎜ ⎟
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠ ηo
Eo2
= zˆ
ηo
Find the time-average power per unit area:

E2
r r 1
[
r r
]
S (r , t ) = Re S (r ) = zˆ o
2 2 ηo
ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Linearly Polarized Plane Waves - I

• All plane waves of the type: E
r r r r
( )η
r r r r E
E (r ) = nˆ Eo e − j k .r H (r ) = kˆ × nˆ o e − j k . r
o
are termed linearly polarized waves H

• The polarized direction is specified by the E-field (by convention) and not by
the H-field

Examples of linearly polarized waves

r r r r E
E (r ) = xˆ Eo e − j k z H (r ) = yˆ o e − j k z
ηo

r r ⎛ xˆ + yˆ ⎞ −jkz r r ⎛ yˆ − xˆ ⎞ Eo − j k z
E (r ) = ⎜ ⎟ Eo e H (r ) = ⎜ ⎟ e
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠ ηo

k k
r r −j (x + z ) r r ⎛ − xˆ + zˆ ⎞ Eo − j ( x + z )
E (r ) = yˆ Eo e 2 H (r ) = ⎜ ⎟ e 2
⎝ 2 ⎠ ηo

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Linearly Polarized Plane Waves - II
Consider the linearly polarized plane wave:
r r ⎛ xˆ + yˆ ⎞ −jkz r r ⎛ xˆ + yˆ ⎞
E (r ) = ⎜ ⎟ Eo e ⇒ E (r , t ) = ⎜ ⎟ Eo cos(ω t − k z )
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
y
x

direction of
propagation
z

observer sitting
at z = 0

Observer sitting at z = 0 sees an oscillating E-field

r r ⎛ xˆ + yˆ ⎞
E (r , t ) =⎜ ⎟ Eo cos (ω t )
z =0 ⎝ 2 ⎠

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Circularly Polarized Plane Waves - I

Consider a plane wave given by the phasor:
r r
E (r ) = ( xˆ − j yˆ ) Eo e − j k z
A complex polarization vector !!
Lets find the time-dependent E-field:

r r
[
r r
E (r , t ) = Re E (r ) e j ω t ]
= Re[ ( xˆ − j yˆ ) Eo e − j k z e j ω t ]
⎡ π ⎤
−j
− jk z jωt
⎢
= Eo Re x e ˆ e + y e 2 e− j k z e j ω t ⎥
ˆ
⎢ ⎥
⎣ ⎦
= Eo [xˆ cos (ω t − k z ) + yˆ sin (ω t − k z )]

Notice that the x- and y-components of the E-field have the same amplitude but
are 90-degrees out of phase

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Circularly Polarized Plane Waves - II

r r r r
E (r ) = ( xˆ − j yˆ ) Eo e − j k z ⇒ E (r , t ) = Eo [xˆ cos (ω t − k z ) + yˆ sin (ω t − k z )]

Observer sitting at z = 0 will see the E-field vector rotating in a circle

observer sitting r r
E (r , t ) = Eo [xˆ cos (ω t ) + yˆ sin (ω t )]
at z = 0 z =0
y
x

Eo direction of
propagation

The E-field at z = 0 never goes to zero but keeps rotating in a

circular trajectory

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Circularly Polarized Plane Waves - III

So what is happening in Space?

• If one takes a snapshot of a circularly polarized wave at any instant, then he will
see the picture shown below

• The E-field vector does not change in magnitude but its direction “twists” in space

• An observer sitting in the path of the wave will see the E-field vector rotate in a
circular trajectory at his location as the wave passes by
y
direction of
propagation
E
x

The H-field at each point is orthogonal to the E-field

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Linearly Vs Circularly Polarized Plane Waves

y
direction of
propagation
Linearly polarized wave E
x

λ
y
direction of
propagation
E
Circularly polarized wave x

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Handedness of Circularly Polarized Plane Waves

Right-Hand Circular Polarization
The wave is right-hand circularly polarized if at any location in
space when the thumb of the right hand points in the direction of
propagation, the fingers curl in the direction of rotation of the E-
field vector in a plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation
y
x

direction of
propagation

Left-Hand Circular Polarization y

x
The wave is left-hand circularly polarized if
at any location in space when the thumb of direction of
the left hand points in the direction of propagation
propagation, the fingers curl in the direction
of rotation of the E-field vector in a plane z
perpendicular to the direction of propagation

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Circularly Polarized Plane Waves - IV

Right-Hand Circularly Polarized Wave in Space

direction of
If one takes a snapshot of a right-hand circularly E
propagation
polarized wave at any instant, then he will see
the following picture

The H-field at each point is orthogonal to the E-field

Left-Hand Circularly Polarized Wave in Space

direction of
If one takes a snapshot of a left-hand circularly E propagation
polarized wave at any instant, then he will see
the following picture

The H-field at each point is orthogonal to the E-field

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Elliptically Polarized Plane Waves - I

This is the most general case (all other previously discussed polarization states
are specific instances of this general case)

Consider a plane wave moving in the +z-direction and given by the phasor:
r r
( )
E (r ) = xˆ + A e jφ yˆ Eo e − j k z

Notice that the x- and y-components of the E-field have different amplitudes and
different phases

r r
[ r r
]
E (r , t ) = Re E (r ) e j ω t
= Re[ (xˆ + A e yˆ ) Eo e − j k z e j ω t ]
j φ

= Eo Re[ xˆ e − j k z e j ω t + yˆ A e j φ e − j k z e j ω t ]
= Eo [xˆ cos (ω t − k z ) + yˆ A cos (ω t − k z + φ )]
At z = 0:
r r
E (r , t ) = Eo [xˆ cos (ω t ) + yˆ A cos (ω t + φ )]

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Elliptically Polarized Plane Waves - II
r r
At z = 0: E (r , t ) = Eo [xˆ cos (ω t ) + yˆ A cos (ω t + φ )]
z =0

y
Example I (A = 1, φ = 0):

r r
E (r , t ) = [xˆ + yˆ ] Eo cos (ω t )
z =0
x
A linearly polarized wave

y
Example II (A = 1, φ = π):

r r
E (r , t ) = [xˆ − yˆ ] Eo cos (ω t )
z =0
x
A linearly polarized wave

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Elliptically Polarized Plane Waves - III

r r
At z = 0: E (r , t ) = Eo [xˆ cos (ω t ) + yˆ A cos (ω t + φ )]
z =0

y
Example III (A = 1, φ = π/2):

r r
E (r , t ) = Eo [xˆ cos (ω t ) − yˆ sin (ω t )]
z =0
x
A left-hand circularly polarized wave

y
Example IV (A = 1, φ = -π/2):

r r
E (r , t ) = Eo [xˆ cos (ω t ) + yˆ sin (ω t )]
z =0
x
A right-hand circularly polarized wave

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Elliptically Polarized Plane Waves - IV
r r
At z = 0: E (r , t ) = Eo [xˆ cos (ω t ) + yˆ A cos (ω t + φ )]
z =0

y
Example V (A = 3, φ = -π/2):

r r
E (r , t ) = Eo [xˆ cos (ω t ) + yˆ 3 sin (ω t )]
z =0

A right-hand elliptically polarized wave x

y
Example VI (A = 0.5, φ = π/2):

r r ⎡ 1 ⎤
E (r , t ) = Eo ⎢ xˆ cos (ω t ) − yˆ sin (ω t )⎥
z =0 ⎣ 2 ⎦
A left-hand elliptically polarized wave x

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Elliptically Polarized Plane Waves - V

r r
E (r , t ) = Eo [xˆ cos (ω t ) + yˆ A cos (ω t + φ )]
z =0

y
Example VII (A = 1, φ = π/4):

r r ⎡ ⎛ π ⎞⎤ π
E (r , t ) = Eo ⎢ xˆ cos (ω t ) + yˆ cos ⎜ ω t + ⎟ ⎥
z =0 ⎣ ⎝ 4 ⎠⎦ 4

A left-hand elliptically polarized wave x

y
Example VIII (A = 1, φ = -3π/4):

π
r r ⎡ ⎛ 3π ⎞⎤
E (r , t ) = Eo ⎢ xˆ cos (ω t ) + yˆ cos ⎜ ω t − ⎟⎥ 4
z =0 ⎣ ⎝ 4 ⎠⎦
x
A right-hand elliptically polarized wave

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Elliptically Polarized Plane Waves - VI
General Case (A, φ ):
r r
E (r , t ) = Eo [xˆ cos (ω t ) + yˆ A cos (ω t + φ )]
z =0

Shape and Orientation of the Ellipse:

y
2A
tan(2ψ ) = cos(φ )
1 − A2
ψ
a
b a 2 + b 2 = 1 + A2
x
ab = A sin(φ )
-1 ⎛ b ⎞
If χ = tan ⎜ ⎟ then,
⎝a⎠
2A
sin(2 χ ) = sin(φ )
Handedness: 1 + A2
• If e j φ is in the upper half of the complex plane then the wave is left-hand
elliptically (or circularly) polarized

• If e j φ is in the lower half of the complex plane then the wave is right-hand
elliptically (or circularly) polarized
ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Linear and/or Circular?

• A circularly polarized wave is a linear superposition of two linearly polarized

waves

r r
E (r ) = ( xˆ − j yˆ ) Eo e − j k z = xˆ Eo e − j k z − yˆ j Eo e − j k z

circular linear linear

• Similarly, a linearly polarized wave is a linear superposition of two circularly
polarized waves

r r E E
E (r ) = xˆ Eo e − j k z = ( xˆ + j yˆ ) o e − j k z + ( xˆ − j yˆ ) o e − j k z
2 2

linear left-hand right-hand

circular circular

For those familiar with linear algebra

Linear or circular polarization states both form a “complete basis” and any
arbitrary polarization state can be expressed as a linear superposition of
appropriate basis states chosen from either linear or circular basis

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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