Plane Waves

Chapter 13

∂ ∂
Hy = - e Ex
∂z ∂t
Solutions of Maxwell’s Equations -- Uniform Plane Waves
The sources of time varying electromagnetic fields are time varying charges
and currents, whether man-made or naturally occurring. However, exami-
nation of Maxwell’s
r r equations shows that, even in empty space (with no
sources), E and H fields cause each other. This means that, although
these fields must originate in source regions, they can propagate through
source-free regions!
Because solutions in source regions are very hard to obtain, let us consider
what kind of fields can exist in source-free regions.
r
r ∂E
—¥ H = e e = eo er = eo n2
∂t
r
r ∂H
—¥ E = - m
∂t
These equations are still very complicated (4 different partial derivatives).
Let’s try to find simple solutions. We do this by making assumptions. After
finding simplest solutions, we:
(i) find what kind of source would generate this type of field (waves).
(ii) show that these simple solutions are useful approximations to real
electromagnetic waves.
Assumption for Solution: Can we find a solution such that:
1.) No variation exists in x and y directions.
r r r
2.) H (\ B also) is oriented along one of the axes (we pick here H to be
along y$ ).
Ampere’s Law becomes:

e$ x
FG ∂ H -
∂ IJ FG
H y + e$ y
∂
Hx -
∂ IJ
H z + e$z
∂ FG
Hy -
∂
Hx
IJ
H∂y z
∂z K H ∂z ∂x K ∂x H ∂y K
=e
FG ∂ E x
e$x +
∂ Ey
e$y +
∂ Ez
e$z
IJ ,
H ∂t ∂t ∂t K
∂ ∂ Ex
or, with our assumptions: - e$x Hy = e e$x .
∂z ∂t
 ∂ ∂
Compare for transmission line: I = -C V
∂z ∂t
∂ ∂ (1)
H y = - e Ex
∂z ∂t

In a similar manner, Faraday’s Law becomes:

∂ ∂ (2)
Ex = - m H y
∂z ∂t
r r
Thus, if H is only in the y$ direction, then E is only in the x$ .
If we differentiate (2) with respect to z, we get:
∂2
Ex = - m
∂ ∂
Hy = - m
∂ ∂FG Hy
IJ
∂z 2
∂z ∂t H
∂t ∂z K
∂ ∂
Substitute from (2), H y = - e Ex
∂z ∂t
∂2 ∂2
E = m e E
∂z2 x ∂t 2 x
This is called the wave equation.

∂ 2V ∂ 2V
Compare for transmission line: = LC 2 (same).
∂z2 ∂t
We will assume dielectric media; lossless: e = e o e r , m = m o

Dimensional analysis:
1 V F I b
∫ mo eo 2
1 V
g FH IK
2
m m H K s m
1 m2
∫ 2 = (velocity)2
me s
Another way:
Joules ∫ Henry ◊ Amp 2

Joules ∫
aCoulombf 2

Farad

Henry ◊ aAmpf ∫
2aCoulombf 2

Farad
F CoulombIJ = s
Henry ◊ Farad ∫ G
2
2

H Amp K
Henry Farad s2 1
\ mo e o ∫ ◊ ∫ 2 =
m m m (velocity)2
In the units we are using:
1
mo e o ∫
c
er n
mo e = =
c c
∂2 ∂2
E = m e E
∂z2 x ∂t 2 x

By exactly the same method, we also get:

∂2 ∂2
H = m e H
∂z2 y ∂t 2 y
n 1 c
me = , or =
c me n
r r r r
For example, the same equation is true for E and H . Thus, E and H must
have the same type of functional dependence. This wave equation still has
many possible solutions. In fact, it can be shown by direct substitution that
F z I and f F t + z I are solutions.
Hy = f1 t -
H vK H vK
2

1 c
Here, v ∫ = .
me e
It is important to note that f1 and f2 can be any function!
 r ∂ ∂
The E field we find directly from the equation: H y = - e Ex
∂z ∂t

Suppose: Hy = Ho cos w t - b z a f
∂
a
b H o sin w t - b z = - e f ∂t
E x (Differentiate with respect to z)

b Ho
Ex = -
e z a f
sin w t - b z dt (Integrate with respect to time)

b Ho
=
w eo
a
cos w t - b z f
This leads to a new quantity that relates the electric and magnetic fields:
b me w m w
= = =h b∫
we ew e v

Rewriting:
r
E = e$x H o h cos w t - b z a f
Units
E volt / m
of h ∫ ∫ =W
H amp / m
mo
ho ∫ impedance of free space = = 377 W
eo
mo mo 1 377
h ∫ impedance of a lossless dielectric = = = W
e eo er er

r r
Note that E and H are in time phase and space quadrature.
The directions of the vectors are such that:
r r E2
E ¥ H = e$z o = e$z H o2 h z>0
h
E o2
= - e$ z = - e$ z H o2 h z<0
h
r r
This vector, E ¥ H , always points in the direction of propagation. These
types of waves are called Uniform Plane Electromagnetic Waves. “Plane”
refers to the fact that, at any instant in time, the surfaces of constant phase
are planes (here, z = constant). “Uniform” means no variation in transverse
direction.
The wave derived here is one oscillating at a single frequency w . The fre-
quency is determined by the source. If the source has multiple frequencies,
so will the wave. In communications, modulating a carrier wave results in
multiple frequencies. But before we can study such fields, we must thor-
oughly understand single frequency sinusoidal waves.

Phasor Plane Waves

The following discussion represents another slightly more general derivation
of plane waves. This derivation also uses phasor forms.
r r r r
— ¥ E = - jw moH — ¥ H = jw e E
r r r
— ¥ — ¥ E = - jw m o — ¥ H = - j w m o ◊ j w e E
d i
Br r
B r
-—2E + — —◊E d i = w 2m oe E
r
But — ◊ E = 0
r r
\ — 2 E + w 2m o e E = 0
r
If we work with H field, we get, in exactly the same manner:
r r
— 2 H + w 2 m oe H = 0

w2
We note that w 2 m o e = 2
2 = b .
v
We can write this wave equation for each cartesian component of each field:
LM E OP x

MM E PP
y This is called the Helmholz
equation. It is the complex
m— 2
+b2 r MM EH PP z =0 equivalent of the wave
x
MM H PP equation.
y
MN H zPQ
r
Note: — A , the Laplacian of a vector, is only defined properly in rectangu-
2

lar coordinates. Its meaning is: Take Laplacian operator and operate on
each rectangular component of the vector.

T was
Up to this point, the derivation T general, with no assumptions
made as to the components of E and H .
r FG — ∂2 r
IJ
c— 2
+b 2
h E=0
H
2
-
∂t2KE =0
or the time dependent
r equivalent forms
FG — ∂2 rIJ
c —2+ b 2 H = 0 h H
2
-
∂t2
H =0
K
have many, many different solutions, depending on the sources (wherever
they may be) and on the boundary conditions. Plane waves are the sim-
plest solutions. But plane waves are not just idealized, mathematical solu-
tions. Many real fields can be approximated by uniform plane waves
(so called).

Uniform Plane Wave Assumption: There is no variation of the fields in

planes perpendicular to the direction of propagation. Previously, we have
chosen the direction of propagation to be z$ . We can just as easily chose x$
or y$ . Other directions, not parallel to the coordinate axes are mathemati-
cally a little bit more difficult. We shall do such arbitrary direction later.
What about the possibility of a field component in the direction of prop-
agation?
Let’s consider that possibility and again chose z as the direction of propaga-
tion. Then,

∂ ∂ 2 d2
, Æ0 — Æ 2
∂x ∂y dz
d2 r 2
r
E + b E =0
dz2
r
What components of E exist?
r
—◊E = 0
∂ E x ∂ E y ∂ Ez dEz
+ + =0 \ =0
∂x ∂y ∂z dz
\ E z = constant or zero. It must be zero.

The uniform plane wave assumption also means

that the fields have no component along the direc-
tion of propagation.

So we have:
LM d
2
+b 2 OP E x =0
LM d
2
OP
+ b 2 Ey = 0
Ndz 2
Q Ndz 2
Q
The solution for each is Ae ± jb z .
These are two independent equations. We can have only E x , only E y , or
both. What we have depends on the nature of the source.
We take the e - jb z solution and restore e jw t dependence.
r
E = e$ x E o e j aw t - b z f
r E
H = e$y o e j aw t - b z f
h
These correspond to the solutions previously obtained for z = 0 .
Another “Pure” Phasor Approach
r
This time, let’s assume that both x$ and y$ components of E exist. But let
us still assume only solutions travelling in the + z direction.
For example,
r we take e - jb z . Restoring e jw t dependence, we get the com-
plex E field components:

E y = E yo e a
j w t - b zf
E x = E xo e j a w t - b z f
r r r
H also can have two independent components. E and H , however, are
related by the two Maxwell curl equations.
r rUsing the complex form, it is
easy to get a relationship between H and E .
e$ x e$y e$z
∂
0 0 = - jw m o e$ x H x + e y H y
∂z
Ex Ey 0

We note that for e jw t dependence differentiation with respect to t becomes

multiplication by jw . For e - jb z dependence, differentiation with respect to z
becomes multiplication by - jb . Notice here the advantage of using com-
plex form. The function does not change, unlike real sinusoids.
We get:
a f a f
- e$ x - j b E y + e$ y - j b E x = - j w m o e$ x H x + e$ y H yc h
Equating the corresponding e$x and e$y parts:
b b
Hx = - Ey Hy = Ex
w mo w mo
r r r
r e$b ¥ E b ¥E
H = =
h w mo
T
This is a general result for plane waves, no matter what the direction of b
vector is. r r r r r r r r r
A¥ B¥C = B A◊C - C A◊ B d i d i
r r
r r 1 r r E ◊E r r
E¥H = E ¥ e$b ¥ E = e$b
d i+ 0 , since e$b ◊ E = 0 . Remember, E and
ho ho
 r r r
H have no component in the direction of propagation. The E ¥ H vector
points in the direction of propagation. This gives an easy way of finding the
direction of one field vector from the other. We see that e$H , e$E and e$b are
three mutually orthogonal unit vectors.
Example: An electromagnetic
r wave is propagating in a vacuum in the - y$
direction. The phasor E field has amplitude 754 and a phase angle of 45
degrees.
r The electric field vector is oriented as shown below. Find the pha-
sor H field and write out the complete fields in real form.
z y

r
3 1 E 754– 45∞ v / m
e$E = e$ x + e$z
2 2
30∞
x

r be perpendicular to e$ and to - e$y . Graphically, itris easy

e$H must r to see
that H must be as shown by the dashed line. This gives E ¥ H in the - y$
direction.

3 1
Thus, e$H = e$z - e$ x
2 2

Math check: e$E ¥ e$H =

LM 3 e$ + 1 e$ OP ¥ LM 3 e$ - 1 e$ OP
x z z x
N2 2 Q N2 2 Q
3 1
= - e$y - e$y = - e$y
4 4
r 754 – 45 ∞ FG 3 e$ - 1 e$ IJ – 45 ∞
H = e$H =2
ho H2 2 Kz x
The real fields are (by inspection):
r
a f FGH 23 e$ + 12 e$ IJK 754 cos aw t + b y + 45 ∞f
E z,t = x z

r F 3 e$ - 1 e$ IJ 2 cos aw t + b y + 45 ∞f
H az , tf = G
H2 2 Kz x

p
t=
4w
t=0

2p
b

p
a
t = 0 : cos + b y + 45 ∞f b
Pictures of the field lines for this wave:

F = by =
2p FG IJ = - p = - 45 ∞
-
l
l H K 4
8
a f
fi cos w t - 45 + 45
fi peak!
y
l etc.
In the plane y = - at t = 0 r
8
E = 754

x
etc. Strength is indicated by
number and by density of
lines.

p y
same plane, t =
4w etc.
r
E = 653

etc.

p : Er = 0
t=
2w
y
r
p E = 754
t= :
w
EEC 130A Plane Waves Fall, ‘97

Return now briefly to the derivation. We derived

r
E
r =h
H
r r
from — ¥ E = - jw m o H .
r r
We can also equally well derive it from — ¥ H = jw e o E .
r r
We get jb H = jw e E . Therefore,
r
E b .
r =
H we

This must again equal h . It does.

b w moe mo
= =
we we e
b w mo
= fi w 2 m o e = b 2
we b

Or, in real form:

r r r
E = eE x j b
e x + E y e y cos w t - b o z - a g
y

r r
H Ey
r
E

r x
Ex

z
This is linear polarization.
Now we consider a more general case.

f130a13_planewaves_intro.fm 13
Elliptical Polarization
In this case we allow arbitrary phase relationships a and b:
r r r
e
E = ex Ex e ja
+ ey Ey e jb
je - jb o z

It is easier to see what this means if we write each component out in real
form:
r r
a f
E x = E x cos w t + a - b z
r r
a f
E y = E y cos w t + b - b z

p
Suppose we let a = 0 and b = . Then:
2
r r
a
E x = E x cos w t - b z
r r
f
a
E y = - E y sin w t - b z f
r r r
a f
What can we see about E z , t = E x e x + E y e y ?