Plane Wave Reflections at a Conductor

Power and reflection coefficient at dielctric boundary

h 2 cos kd + j h 1 sin kd
h = h1
h 1 cos kd + j h 2 sin kd
Normal Incidence Plane Wave Reflection at Perfect Conductor

perfect conductor
1 2
r h1
E 1+ r r
E2 = 0 , H2 = 0

r h2 = 0
E 1-

r r
At the boundary, since E 2 and H 2 are both 0, then:
r r r
E tot = E 1+ + E 1- = 0 E tangential = 0 (no charge)
r r
Solution exists for E 1+ = - E 1- = E
r r
af
Then, Etot z = E 1+ e 1 - e 2 e$x = - 2 j E sin b 1 z e$x
- jb z
e + jb z
j
This is our old friend, the standing wave! Let’s check r and t .
h 2 - h1 2h 2
Recall that r = = - 1 , since h 2 = 0 and t = = 0.
h 2 + h1 h 2 + h1
r r
a f
The total field is: Etot z , t = Re e jw Etot z af c h
= 2 sin b 1 z sin w t e$ x .

What about the magnetic field?

r
a f FGH hE
H to t z = +

1
e
- jb 1 z
+
E-
-h1
e
+ jb 2 z I
e$ y
JK
But the boundary conditions on E have that E + = − E − .

Then:
r E E
af
H tot z = + e 1 + e 2 e$ y = 2 + cos b z e$ y
h1
- jb z
e + jb z

h1
j
or, in the time domain representation:
r E
a f
H tot z , t = 2 + cos b z cos w t e$ y
h1
Observations:
1. The amplitude of the total electric field is zero at the surface of the con-
ductor. (For all time!)
2. The maximum amplitude of the standing wave is double that of the trav-
elling wave. The maximum occurs at specific locations, namely:
l 3l p 3p
z= , , ... and, at specific times, w t = 2 , 2 , ... .
4 4
The location of the maximum coincides with the maximum in constructive
interference.
3. There are points in front of the metal reflector where the total electric field
is always zero. These are the points of maximum destructive interfer-
ence:
l 3l
z= , l, , ...
2 2
4. Location of nulls and peaks do not change in time.
5. The electric and magnetic fields are 90° out of phase in a standing wave!
This leads to no net power flow.
r
6. New r Hr and t Hr for H field:
h1 - h 2 2h1 h2
r Hr = = - r and t Hr = = t
h1 + h 2 h1 - h 2 h1

Example
What is the Poynting vector for this wave?
r 1 r r
Pav = Re E z ¥ H * z
2
af af
1 F
Re - 2 j E sin b 1 z e$ x ¥
2E
cos b 1 z e$ y
I=0
=
2 GH h1 JK (Why?!)
Reflections at Multiple Intefaces

We previously calculated the impedance at a distance − z from an interface.

Suppose we have a dielectric ( e = e o e r ) slab of thickness d in air ( e = e o )
and a plane wave incident normal to the surface.

eo e o e r1 e o e r2
a
h z=-d f
ho h1 h2
d
0 z
z = −d z=0

The impedance at z = − d is given by:

h 2 cos kd + j h 1 sin kd
h = h1
h 1 cos kd + j h 2 sin kd

This is a complicated expression that has some very interesting special

cases.
p
To get one of these cases, note that if kd = , then the cosines are zero
2
j h 1 h 12
and h = h 1 = .
jh2 h2
h 12
The importance of this result is that if we can find an h 1 , such that h o = ,
h2
then there will be no reflections from the boundary at z = − d . For example,
h - ho
select h 1 = h o h 2 . Then r = = 0 because h = h o .
h + ho
Examples of Reflection and Transmission Coefficients
Suppose we have a very thick slab of a semiconductor with n = 3.5 . Let us
look at the reflection at the interface with air ( h air ª h o ).
First from air to semiconductor:
ho
h1 = ho h2 =
n

Recall that h =
ho .
n
o h 1
h 2 - h1 - ho -1
r= = n = n
h 2 + h1 ho 1
+ ho +1
n n
1 - n - 2 .5 E1-
= = = - 0.55555... =
1+ n 4. 5 E1+
2ho 2
2h 2 n
t = = = n
h 2 + h 1 ho 1
+ ho +1
n n
2 2 E2+
= = = 0 . 444444... =
n + 1 4 .5 E1+
1 + r = t fi 1 - 0 . 55555... = 0 . 444444...
E12+
Check power: Pincident =
2h o
E12- 2
Preflected = = Pincident r = Pincident 0 .30864
2ho
2

Ptransmitted =
E 22+
=
ct E h
1+ n
= Pincident t 2 n
2h 2 2ho

= Pincident 0 .1975 ¥ 3.5 = Pincident 0 . 6913

 a f
or: Pincident = Preflected + Ptransmitted = Pincident 0 . 6913 + 0 . 30864 = 0 . 99999
That is, power is indeed conserved!
Now we will reverse the direction of the radiation.
ho h 2 = ho
h1 =
n

ho
Recall again that h = . This time we have:
n
o h 1
h 2 - h 1 ho - n 1-
n
r= = =
h 2 + h1 ho 1
ho + 1+
n n
n - 1 2. 5 E1-
= = = 0.55555... =
n + 1 4 .5 E1+
2h 2 2ho 2n
t = = =
h 2 + h1 h 1
ho + o 1+
n n
2n 7 E2+
= = = 1.555555... =
1 + n 4 .5 E1+
1 + r = t fi 1 + 0 . 55555... = 1. 55555...
E12+ E12+ n E12+ Pincident
Check power: Pincident = = fi =
2h 2ho 2h o n
Then:
E12- 2
Preflected = = Pincident r = Pincident 0 .30864
2h
2

Ptransm itted =
E 22+
=
ct E h
1+ P
= incident
t 2
=
2 . 4197
2ho 2ho n 3.5
= Pincident 0 .6913
a f
or: Pincident = Preflected + Ptransmitted = Pincident 0 . 6913 + 0 . 30864 = 0 . 99999
That is, power is again conserved!
Consider two limiting cases: Suppose we have a boundary between two
dielectrics as above, except now let the dielectric constant of one be nearly
infinite. What are the reflection coefficients?

ho
h1 = ho h2 = n >>1
n

h 2 - h1
n >>1, h 2 ª 0 r= ª -1 1+r = t
h 2 + h1
2h 2
t = ª0
h 2 + h1

Electric field flips over, like a dielectric metal interface. (short circuit)
Now the other case:
ho
n >>1 h1 = h 2 = ho
n

h 2 - h1
n >>1, h 1 ª 0 r= ª1 1+r = t
h 2 + h1
2h 2
t = ª2
h 2 + h1

E1- E 2 +
1+ = fi E1+ + E1- = E 2 +
E1+ E1+