Poynting’s Theorem

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 Poynting Theorem

The Poynting theorem is one of the most important in EM theory. It

tells us the power flowing in an electromagnetic field.

John Henry Poynting (1852-1914)

John Henry Poynting was an English physicist. He was a

professor of physics at Mason Science College (now the University
of Birmingham) from 1880 until his death.

He was the developer and eponym of the Poynting vector, which

describes the direction and magnitude of electromagnetic energy
flow and is used in the Poynting theorem, a statement about energy
conservation for electric and magnetic fields. This work was first
published in 1884. He performed a measurement of Newton's
gravitational constant by innovative means during 1893. In 1903 he
was the first to realize that the Sun's radiation can draw in small
particles towards it. This was later coined the Poynting-Robertson
effect.

In the year 1884 he analyzed the futures exchange prices of

commodities using statistical mathematics.

(Wikipedia)
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 Poynting Theorem (cont.)

B
 E = −
t
D
H = J +
t

From these we obtain:

B
H  (  E) = −H 
t
D
E  (  H ) = J E + E 
t

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 Poynting Theorem (cont.)

B
H  (  E) = −H 
t
D
E  (  H ) = J E + E 
t
Subtract, and use the following vector identity:

H  (   E ) − E  (   H ) =   (E  H )
We then have:

B D
  (E  H ) = − J  E − H  −E
t t

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 Poynting Theorem (cont.)

B D
 (E  H ) = − J  E − H  −E
t t

Next, assume that Ohm's law applies for the electric current:
J =E

B D
  (E  H ) = − (E  E ) − H  −E
t t

or

B D
  (E  H ) = − E − H  −E
2

t t
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 Poynting Theorem (cont.)

B D
 (E  H ) = − E − H  −E
2

t t
 B  A
Note : ( A B) = A +  B
From calculus (chain rule), we have that t t t
 A
 ( A  A) = 2 A 
t t
D  E  1 
E =  E  = (E  E )
t  t  2 t
B  H  1 
H  = H  = (H  H )
t  t  2 t

Hence we have

1  1 
  (E  H ) = − E −  (H  H ) −  (E  E )
2

2 t 2 t
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 Poynting Theorem (cont.)

1 1
 (E  H ) = − E −  (H  H ) −  (E  E )
2

2 t 2 t

This may be written as

 1 2  1 2
  (E  H ) = − E −   H  −   E 
2

t  2  t  2 

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 Poynting Theorem (cont.)

Final differential (point) form of Poynting’s theorem:

 1   1 2
  (E  H ) = − E −   H −   E 
2 2

t  2  t  2 

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 Poynting Theorem (cont.)

Volume (integral) form

Integrate both sides over a volume and then apply the divergence theorem:

 1   1 2
  (E  H ) = − E −   H −   E 
2 2

t  2  t  2 

 1 2  1 2
   (E  H ) dV = −   E dV −   −  
2
 H  dV  E  dV
V V V
t  2  V
t  2 

Divergence theorem

 1 2  1 2
 (E  H )  nˆ dS = −   E dV −   −  
2
 H  dV  E  dV
S V V
t  2  V
t  2 
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 Poynting Theorem (cont.)

Final volume form of Poynting theorem in the most general case:

 1 2  1 2
 (E  H )  nˆ dS = −   E dV −   −  
2
 H  dV  E  dV
S V V
t  2  V
t  2 

For a stationary surface:

 1 2  1 2
 (E  H )  nˆ dS = −   E dV − t V
 −  
2
 H  dV  E  dV
S V 2  t V  2 

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 Poynting Theorem (cont.)

Poynting’s theorem: (We assume here that S is stationary.)

 1 2  1 2
−  (E  H )  nˆ dS =   E dV +    H  dV +    E  dV
2

S V
t V 2  t V  2 

Power dissipation as heat (Joule's law)

Rate of change of stored magnetic energy

Rate of change of stored electric energy

Conservation of energy:

Left-hand side = power flowing into the region V.

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 Poynting Theorem (cont.)
Hence

−  (E  H )  nˆ dS = power flowing into the region

S

Or, we can say that

 (E  H )  nˆ dS = power flowing out of the region

S

Define the Poynting vector: S E  H

 S  nˆ dS = power flowing out of the region

S
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 Poynting Theorem (cont.)

Analogy:

 S  nˆ dS = power flowing out of the region

S

 J  nˆ dS = current flowing out of the region

S

J = current density vector

S = power flow vector

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 Poynting Theorem (cont.)

Poynting vector

S =E  H

Direction of power flow in W/m2

S
H

Note: At high frequencies (e.g., light or x rays), it is often convenient to think of

photons moving in space, carrying the power flow. The two points of view are
consistent.
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 Power Flow

S =EH

Surface S

n̂

The power P flowing through the surface S (from left to right) is:

P ( t ) =  S  nˆ dS
S

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 Time-Average Poynting Vector

Assume sinusoidal (time-harmonic) fields:

E ( x, y , z, t ) = Re E ( x, y , z ) e jt 

H ( x, y , z, t ) = Re H ( x, y , z ) e jt 

( )
Question:
1
v (t )i (t ) = Re VI * Can we put the
conjugate on the V
For time averages, we know that 2 instead of the I?

= Re ( E  H * )
1
S (t ) = E (t )  H (t )
2

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 Complex Poynting Vector

Define the complex Poynting vector:

S  (E  H*)
1
The units of S are [VA/m2].
2

We then have that

S ( x, y , z, t ) = Re ( S ( x, y , z ) )

Note:
The imaginary part of the complex Poynting vector
corresponds to the Vars/m2 flowing in space.
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 Complex Poynting Vector (cont.)

1
S = EH
*

Surface S
Note:
The direction of the unit normal
determines whether the power flow is
form left to right or from right to left.

n̂

The complex power P flowing through the surface S (from left to right) is:

P =  S  nˆ dS Re ( P ) = Watts
S Im ( P ) = Vars

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 Complex Poynting Vector (cont.)
What does Vars flowing in space mean?

Equation for Vars flowing into a region (derivation omitted):

1 1 2
Vars = 2     H −  E  dV
2

V  
4 4
= 2  ( Wm − We )
The Vars flowing into the region V is equal to the difference in the time-average magnetic
and electric stored energies inside the region (times a factor of 2).

VARS
S Question:
does an inductor
V absorb positive or
negative Vars?

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 Complex Poynting Vector (cont.)

P =  S  ( −nˆ ) dS = complex power flowing in = Watts + j ( Vars )

S

2 1 2
Watts =   E dV =
V
2V  E dV (heat dissipation inside the region)

Vars = 2  ( Wm − We )
Watts
n̂
S Vars

VARS Power (watts)

“consumed” consumed
V

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 Photons

At high frequencies (e.g., light, x-rays), physicists like to think in terms of photons

E p = hf (energy of photon) h = 6.626068 10−34 [J s]

(Planck’s constant)

Energy E p ( A ( c t ) ) N p Photons moving:

Sz = =
A t A t  = ct
= E pc N p
v
A

Sz = c E p N p S = Sz zˆ
Np photons per m3

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 Photons (cont.)

Photons also carry momentum, and can therefore exert a force on objects.

Ep
pp = (momentum of photon)
c
Solar Sail

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 Example

At z = 0:
E = xˆ cos (t )

H = yˆ cos (t −  / 4 ) + zˆ sin (t + 3 / 4 )

Find the Watts and Vars crossing the plane z = 0 (downward) through a 1 m2 area S.

z
Note :
S sin x = cos ( x −  / 2 )
so

y sin (t + 3 / 4 )
= cos (t + 3 / 4 −  / 2 )
= cos (t +  / 4 )

nˆ = − zˆ
x

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 Example (Cont.)

At z = 0:
E = xˆ
(phasor domain)
− j /4 + j /4
H = yˆ e + zˆ e
z

1  1 1 
S= E  H * =  zˆ e + j /4 − yˆ e − j /4   VA/m 2  S
2  2 2 
y

P =  S  nˆ dS =  S  ( − zˆ ) dS = −  S z dS
S S S
nˆ = − zˆ
1 1 x
= −  e + j /4 dS = − e + j /4 (1)  VA 
S
2 2

  1
1
Pr = Re ( P ) = − cos   Pr = − W
2 4 Hence 2 2
1   1
Pi = Im ( P ) = − sin   Pi = −  VAR 
2 4 2 2
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 Note on Circuit Theory
Although the Poynting vector can always be used to calculate power flow on a
transmission line, circuit theory can also be used, and this is usually easier.

Example (low frequency circuit):

Pf = power flowing down the system
Current phasor
I
Voltage phasor

+ +
V − V ZL
−
z

1 
Pf =   E  H *   zˆ dS S
S 
2
1 *
Pf = VI (This is exact for a transmission line.)
2
The second form is much easier to calculate!
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