Lecture 16

Waves in Isotropic Media: Dielectrics and Conductors

In this lecture you will learn:

• Wave propagation in dielectric media

• Waves propagation in conductive media

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Review: Plane Waves in Free Space

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 )
r v r
Complex Wave Equation: Assume: J (r ) = ρ (r ) = 0
r r r r r r
∇ × ∇ × E (r ) = − j ω µo ∇ × H (r ) = ω 2 µo ε o E (r )
0
( )
r r r r r r
⇒ ∇ ∇ . E (r ) − ∇ 2 E (r ) = ω 2 µo ε o E (r )
r r r r
⇒ ∇ 2 E (r ) = −ω 2 µo ε o E (r )

For a plane wave in free space we know the E-field and H-field phasors to be:
r r r r
r
E (r ) = nˆ Eo e − j k .r k =ω µo ε o =
ω E
k
c
r r
( )η
r r E
H (r ) = kˆ × nˆ o e − j k . r µo
ηo = ≈ 377 Ω H
o εo

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Waves in a Dielectric Medium – Wave Equation
Suppose we have a plane wave of the form,
r r E
r r
E (r ) = nˆ Eo e − j k .r
ε
traveling in an infinite dielectric medium with permittivity ε
H
What is different from wave propagation in free space?

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 E (r )
r v r
Complex Wave Equation: Assume: J (r ) = ρ (r ) = 0

r r r r r r
∇ × ∇ × E (r ) = − j ω µo ∇ × H (r ) = ω 2 µo ε E (r ) compare with the
r r0 complex wave equation
( )
r r r r
⇒ ∇ ∇ . E (r ) − ∇ 2 E (r ) = ω 2 µo ε E (r ) in free space
r r r r r r r r
⇒ ∇ 2 E (r ) = −ω 2 µo ε E (r ) ∇ 2 E (r ) = −ω 2 µo ε o E (r )

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Waves in a Dielectric Medium – Dispersion Relation

Substitute the plane wave solution:
r r r r E
E (r ) = nˆ Eo e − j k .r
in the complex wave equation: ε
r r r r
∇ 2 E (r ) = −ω 2 µo ε E (r ) H

To get:
r r r r
∇ 2 E (r ) = −ω 2 µo ε E (r )
r r r r r r
⇒ − k . k E (r ) = −ω 2 µo ε E (r )
⇒ k 2 = ω 2 µo ε
compare with k = ω µo ε o
⇒ k = ω µo ε for waves in free space

Refractive Index:
ε
Define refractive index “n” of a dielectric medium as: n =
εo

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Waves in a Dielectric Medium – Velocity
Plane wave: E
r r r r
E (r ) = nˆ Eo e − j k .r ε
Dispersion relation: H

k = ω µo ε
ε ε
⇒ k = ω µo ε o n=
εo εo
n ω
⇒ k =ω compare with k = for waves in
c free space c

The velocity of waves in a dielectric medium is reduced from the velocity of waves
in free space by the refractive index

• Velocity of waves in free space: c

c
• Velocity of waves in dielectric medium of refractive index n:
n

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Waves in a Dielectric Medium - Wavelength

Plane wave in a dielectric medium:
E
r r r r
E (r ) = nˆ Eo e − j k .r
ε
n
Dispersion relation: k = ω H
c
But the magnitude of the wavevector is
2π
related to the wavelength by the relation: k =
λ
So for a dielectric medium we get:
2π c
2π c compare with λ = for waves
λ= in free space ω
ωn

The wavelength of plane waves in a

dielectric medium is reduced from the
wavelength of plane waves of the
same frequency in free space by the
refractive index

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Waves in a Dielectric Medium – Magnetic Field
Plane wave: E
r r r r
E (r ) = nˆ Eo e − j k .r ε
H
Calculate the magnetic field:

r r j r r
H (r ) = ∇ × E (r )
ω µo
r r
( )ω kµ
r r
⇒ H (r ) = kˆ × nˆ Eo e − j k . r
o
r r
( )ω µ
r r k
⇒ H (r ) = kˆ × nˆ Eo e − j k . r
o
r r The wave impedance also
( )η
r r E
⇒ H (r ) = kˆ × nˆ o e − j k . r changes
µo
η=
ε
µo ε o ηo
= =
εo ε n

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Waves in a Conductive Medium – Complex Permittivity

Suppose we have a plane wave of the form,
r r
σ E
E (r ) = xˆ Eo e − j k z ε
traveling in an infinite medium with conductivity σ and H
permittivity ε
Faraday’s Law:
r r r r
∇ × E (r ) = − j ω µo H (r )
r v
Ampere’s Law: Now J (r ) ≠ 0
r r r v r r
∇ × H (r ) = J (r ) + j ω ε E (r ) ⎛ σ ⎞
r r r r ε eff (ω ) = ε ⎜⎜ 1 − j ⎟
= σ E (r ) + j ω ε E (r ) ⎝ ω ε ⎟⎠
r r
= j ω ε eff (ω ) E (r )

Complex Wave Equation:

r r r r
⇒ ∇ 2 E (r ) = −ω 2 µo ε eff (ω ) E (r ) The effect of conductivity has been
absorbed in a complex frequency
dependent effective permittivity

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Waves in a Conductive Medium – Complex Refractive Index
Plane wave:
r r
σ E
E (r ) = xˆ Eo e − j k z ε
H
Dispersion relation:

k = ω µo ε eff (ω )
ε eff (ω ) ε eff (ω ) complex refractive
⇒ k = ω µo ε o neff (ω ) =
εo ε o index
n (ω ) ω
⇒ k = ω eff compare with k = for waves in
c free space c

ε σ
Since the refractive index is complex: neff (ω ) = 1− j
εo ωε
the wavevector k is also complex

Let: k = k '− j k ' ' σ

= loss tangent
ωε
Real part Imaginary part
ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Waves in a Conductive Medium – Complex Wavevector

Plane wave:
r r
σ E
E (r ) = xˆ Eo e − j k z ε
Complex wavevector: k = k '− j k ' ' H

What are the implications of a complex wavevector?

• Wave decays exponentially with distance as it propagates
r r
E (r ) = xˆ Eo e − j k z exponential decay
r r
⇒ E (r ) = xˆ Eo e − j k ' z e − k '' z
E σ
e − k '' z ε
• The wavelength is related to the
real part of the wavevector:

2π
k' = z
λ
λ

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Waves in a Conductive Medium – Magnetic Field
Plane wave:
r r σ E
E (r ) = xˆ Eo e − j k z ε
Calculate the magnetic field: H

r r j r r
H (r ) = ∇ × E (r )
ω µo
r r k
⇒ H (r ) = yˆ Eo e − j k z Don’t forget that the wavevector
ω µo “k” is complex now
r r k
⇒ H (r ) = yˆ Eo e − j k z
ω µo
r r Eo The impedance is now also
⇒ H (r ) = yˆ e− j k z
ηeff (ω ) complex
µo
ηeff (ω ) =
ε eff (ω )

Note: The E-field and the H-field are no longer in phase since ηeff(ω ) is complex

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Waves in a Conductive Medium – Power Flow

Plane wave:
r r r r σ E
Eo
E (r ) = xˆ Eo e − j k z H (r ) = yˆ e− j k z ε
ηeff (ω )
k = k '− j k ' ' H

1 k k '− j k ' ' σ

Note that: = = E
ηeff (ω ) ω µo ω µo − k '' z ε
e
Poynting vector and time average power per
unit area:
r r 1 r r
S (r , t ) = Re S (r )
2
[ ] z

1
[
r r r r
= Re E (r ) × H * (r )
2
] λ

1 ⎡ Eo2 − 2 k '' z
⎤ E2 ⎛ k ' ⎞ − 2 k '' z
= Re ⎢ zˆ e ⎥ = ˆ o
z ⎜⎜ ω µ ⎟⎟ e
2 ⎢ ηeff (ω ) *
⎣ ( ) ⎥⎦ 2 ⎝ o⎠
Time average power per unit area decays exponentially with distance because
energy is dissipated in a conductive medium due to I2R (or J.E) type of losses
and this energy dissipated is taken away from the plane wave

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Loss Tangent and Dielectric Relaxation Time - I
neff (ω )
The complex wavevector is: k = ω
c
ε σ
The complex refractive index is: neff (ω ) = 1− j
εo ωε

Loss tangent
σ
Loss tangent =
ωε
ε
But the dielectric relaxation time was: τ d =
σ
1 ε 1
⇒ Loss tangent = And: neff (ω ) = 1− j
ω τd εo ω τd

Loss tangent

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Loss Tangent and Dielectric Relaxation Time - II

There are two possible scenarios:

High frequency and/or low conductivity case (e.g. lossy dielectrics)

ω τ d >> 1 or ωε
>> 1
σ
The frequency is much greater than the inverse dielectric relaxation time

⇒The conductive medium does not have enough time to react to the
electromagnetic wave
⇒No appreciable currents flow in the conductive medium

Low frequency and/or high conductivity case (e.g. Imperfect metals)

ω τ d << 1 ωε
or << 1
σ
The frequency is much smaller than the inverse dielectric relaxation time

⇒The conductive medium has enough time to react to the electromagnetic wave
⇒Appreciable currents flow in the conductive medium

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Waves in a Conductive Medium – Lossy Dielectrics
Plane waves:
r r
σ E
E (r ) = xˆ Eo e − j k z ε
Dispersion relation Refractive index H

n (ω ) ε σ
k = ω eff neff (ω ) = 1− j σ 1
c εo ωε = = loss tangent
ω ε ω τd
Lossy dielectric approximation:

σ ε ⎛ σ ⎞
If << 1 then: neff (ω ) ≈ ⎜⎜ 1 − j ⎟
ωε εo ⎝ 2 ω ε ⎟⎠
ω ε ⎛ σ ⎞ E σ
⇒ k = k '− j k ' ' = ⎜ 1− j ⎟
c ε o ⎜⎝ 2 ω ε ⎟⎠ e − k '' z ε

ω ε σ µo 2π
k' = k' ' = λ=
c εo 2 ε k' z
r r
E (r ) = xˆ Eo e − j k z λ
r r
⇒ E (r ) = xˆ Eo e − j k ' z e − k '' z
ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Waves in a Conductive Medium – Imperfect Metals

Now consider the case when:

ωε
ω τ d << 1 or << 1
σ
The frequency is much smaller than the inverse dielectric relaxation time

⇒The conductive medium has enough time to react to the electromagnetic wave
⇒Appreciable currents flow in the conductive medium
c r r
x E Current Density: J = σ E

y H
σ
Plane wave ε

These currents try to screen out the magnetic field and, therefore, prevent the
electromagnetic wave from going into the conductor

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Waves in a Conductive Medium – Imperfect Metals
Plane waves:
r r
σ E
E (r ) = xˆ Eo e − j k z ε
Dispersion relation Refractive index
H
n (ω ) ε σ
k = ω eff neff (ω ) = 1− j σ 1
c εo ωε = = loss tangent
ω ε ω τd

Imperfect metal approximation:

σ ε σ σ
Suppose >> 1 then: neff (ω ) ≈ −j = (1 − j )
ωε εo ωε 2 ω εo

σ ω µo
⇒ k = k '− j k ' ' = (1 − j ) = 1 (1 − j )
2 δ

ω µo σ 1 ω µo σ 1 2π
k' = = k' ' = = λ= = 2π δ
2 δ 2 δ k'

δ = penetration depth or skin-depth

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Waves in a Conductive Medium – Imperfect Metals

Due to current screening the wave decays within a few
skin-depths:
E σ
r r
E (r ) = xˆ Eo e − j k z ε
r r
⇒ E (r ) = xˆ Eo e − j k ' z e − k '' z
z
r r − z
⇒ E (r ) = xˆ Eo e − j k ' z e δ
z
−
δ = penetration depth or skin-depth e δ

Since the wavelength λ inside the medium is 2πδ , the wave hardly propagates one
wavelength distance into the medium

r r
The screening current density, given by J = σ E , is non-zero only in a layer of
thickness equal to skin-depth δ near the surface

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Waves in a Conductive Medium

Lossy Dielectrics Imperfect Metals

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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