Reflection and Transmission of a Plane

Wave Incident on a Planar Surface

• Since plane waves in space and waves on T-
lines are TEM, the reflection and transmission
coefficients we have derived apply to both
• To be consistent with the book, we will use k
as the wavenumber rather than 
• We will now look at plane wave reflection
from planar surfaces, where the wave may be
arriving at angles other than normal.

Defining Direction of Propagation

In the notation we have used so far in this class, a plane wave with
a y-directed E-field propagating in the z direction is given by:
E y ( z )  E0e  jkz
A plane wave traveling in any direction is given by:

 j kx x  k y y kz z 
E ( x, y, z )  E0e where the direction of propagation is
defined by k x , k y , and k z . A condition that must be satisfied is:
k x 2  k y 2  k z 2  k 2 where k    as before. If propagation
is in the z direction k x  k y  0 and k z  k
E

ân
H E

ân
H E

ân
H

1
 Defining Direction of Propagation (2)
A common way to represent plane waves traveling at oblique
angles (i.e., not aligned with one of the coordinate axes) is:
E ( R )  E0e jk R where k  k x aˆ x  k y aˆ y  k z aˆ z and R  xaˆ x  yaˆ y  zaˆ z
Note: k  R  k x x  k y y  k z z consistent with the form above
R is a vector from the
E
origin to (x,y,z)
ân
H E
( x, y , z ) E ( R )  E ( x, y, z )
ân
H E
k points in the direction
R ân of propagation
H

Example 1
Find the vector wavenumber for a wave whose magnetic field
component is given below:
H   aˆ x  3aˆ y  2aˆ z  e
 j  2 x  2 y  2 z 

The phase is defined by the scalar function:

( x, y, z)    2 x  2 y  2 z 
The planes defined by this function being equal to a constant
are the planes of equal phase, as shown in green on the
previous slide.
The direction in which this function decreases most rapidly,
determined by the gradient, will be in the direction of
propagation. The magnitude of that gradient will give the phase
change per unit length in the direction of propagation:
k  ( x, y, z )    2aˆ x  2aˆ y  2aˆ z 

2
 Example 2
Find the vector wavenumber for a 400 MHz plane wave in a pure
dielectric (r = 9) that is propagating in the direction of the unit
vector below:
2aˆ x  aˆ y  2aˆ z
aˆ 
3
Solution:
2 f 2  4 10 
8
2
k    8 radians / m
 vp  3 108 
9
Because the direction of k is the same as the direction of
propagation:
8
k  kaˆ 
3
 2aˆx  aˆ y  2aˆz 

Determining Phase Change in a Given Direction

We can also use the vector k to determine how quickly the phase
of a plane wave is changing in a specified direction by dotting the
vector k with the unit vector defining that direction.
aˆgiven
Planes of constant phase

Note: S is in the same

k
direction as k

For example, in our previous example, how quickly is phase

changing in the direction of propagation (which we already know)?
8 
2aˆ x  aˆ y  2aˆ z
Phase change =k  aˆgiven 
3

2aˆ x  aˆ y  2aˆ z   3
 8

The rate of phase change will be greatest in the direction of

propagation, and it will be zero perpendicular to the direction of
propagation.

3
 Rate of Phase Change on a Boundary
If a plane wave is incident on a boundary as shown, how quickly
will the phase of that wave change along the boundary? We will
need this to find the reflected and transmitted fields.

i r
Region 1

Region 2

Phase change of the incident field on the boundary = k1 sin i radians/m

Because the boundary is illuminated by a plane wave, the total
field on the boundary must be constant (i.e., uniform). This will
happen only if the phase of the reflected field changes at the same
rate as the incident field.
This implies that: k1 sin i  k1 sin  r  i   r

The angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection

Snell’s Law of Refraction

Similarly, the transmitted field
phase must also change at the i r
Region 1
same rate as the incident and
Region 2
reflected fields:
t
k1 sin i  k1 sin  r  k2 sin t

i , r , and t are the angles of incidence, reflection, and

transmission. Rearranging, we get:
k1
sin  t  sin  i
k2

This is one form of Snell’s Law of refraction. Knowing the angle of

incidence, we can find the angle of transmission.

4
 Snell’s Law Example

If region 1 is free space, and i r

region 2 is a dielectric with r = 9, Region 1

find the angle of transmission into Region 2

region 2 for a plane wave incident t

at an angle of 50.

Solution
k1  11   0 0
sin  t  sin  i  sin  i  sin 50
k2   2 2   0  9 0 
1
sin  t  sin 50  0.2553   t  sin 1  0.2553  14.8
3
If permittivity changes with frequency, different frequencies will be
transmitted at different angles, which is why prisms are able to
separate the different colors (frequencies) of light.

Reflection and Transmission (oblique incidence)

To apply boundary conditions, we need to identify 2 cases, one
where E is parallel to the boundary, and the other where H is
parallel to the boundary. z

Case I: E parallel to the boundary- called Hi Hr

horizontal or perpendicular polarization,
Ei  i  r Er
because E is normal to the plane formed
X
by the normal to the boundary and the
direction of propagation. Applying
boundary conditions:
ETan1  ETan2  E yi  E yr  E yt
H Tan1  H Tan2  H xi  H xr  H xt  H i cos i  H r cos r  H t cos t
E E E
noting that  i   r ; 1  i  r and 2  t we can put our
Hi Hr Ht
equation for H Tan in terms of E :
Ei E E  cos t
cos i  r cos i  t cos t  Ei  Er  Et 1
1 1 2 2 cos i

5
 Reflection and Transmission (oblique incidence)

Knowing that Ei+Er=Et, we can substitute for Et in the above

equation, which will give us the relationship between Ei and Er.
Defining the reflection coefficient, , as Er/Ei:
2 cos i 1 cos t
 we can find t from i using Snell's Law
2 cos i  1 cos t

Note that this will give us the same reflection coefficient that we
obtained when solving for normal incidence, where i=t=0°

Parallel, or Vertical Polarization

Case II: H parallel to the boundary-
z
called vertical or parallel
polarization, because E is parallel to Hi Hr
the plane formed by the normal to i r
Ei Er
the boundary and the direction of
X
propagation. Using the same type of
analysis as for horizontal
polarization, we get the reflection
coefficient:
2 cos t 1 cos i

2 cos t  1 cos i

Definition: Brewster Angle- with vertical polarization, there are cases

where  goes to zero no energy is reflected and all energy is
transmitted into the second medium.

6
 Reflection Coefficients for Average Ground
r  15 and s = 8  10 -3 S / m

Horizontal Polarization Vertical Polarization

1.0 1.0
Magnitude 

Magnitude 
0.8

0.8 0.6

0.4

0.6 0.2

0.0
0 20 40 60 80 0 20 40 60 80

Incidence Angle Incidence Angle

Brewster Angle

Reflection Coefficients for Seawater

r  81 and s= 4 S / m

Horizontal Polarization Vertical Polarization

1 1

0.99 0.9
Magnitude 

Magnitude 

0.98 0.8

0.97 0.7

0.96 0.6

0.95 0.5

0.94 0.4

0.93 0.3
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Incidence Angle Incidence Angle

Brewster Angle

7
Image With & Without Polarized Lens

8
 Finding the Brewster Angle
Vertical Polarization Since the Brewster angle occurs at the angle
where the reflection coefficient goes to zero, we need to solve for:
 cos t 1 cos i
 2  0  2 cos t  1 cos i
2 cos t  1 cos i
To simplify calculations, consider the lossless case and assume
=0 in both media:

0
s  0   Substituting this into the above

0 0 
cos t  cos i  cos i  1 cos t
2 1 2
Squaring both sides
ε1
cos 2 θi 
ε2
1 - sin 2 θt  using sin 2 θt  cos 2 θt  1 on the right

Finding the Brewster Angle (2)

Use Snell's Law to put sin θt in terms of sin i
ε1  ε1 
cos 2 θi  1 - sin i 
2

ε2  ε2 
Since cos 2 θi  sin 2 θi  1 , we can use it in place of the 1 above:
ε1  2 ε1 
cos 2 θi   cos θi  sin θi - sin i 
2 2

ε2  ε2 
Rearranging:
ε   ε  sin 2 θi 
sin 2 θi  1  1  cos 2 θi 1  2    tan 2 θi  2
 ε2   ε1  cos θi
2
1
At the Brewster Angle θi  θB
 ε 
θB  tan 1  2 
 ε1 

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 Brewster Angle Application
Remote detection of land mines- by illuminating the ground at the
Brewster angle, the signal incident on the mine will be maximized.

B

Mine
A broad-band signal is used as the source so that the spectrum of
the backscattered field can be used to identify the “signature” of a
mine.
Example: Assuming average ground (r=15) and ignoring
conductivity, what is the Brewster angle for the above application?

 ε 
θ B  tan 1  2   tan 1  15   75.5
 ε1 

Finding the Brewster Angle (2)

Horizontal Polarization Again, we solve for the angle where the reflection
coefficient goes to zero:
2 cos i 1 cos t
  0  2 cos i  1 cos t
2 cos i  1 cos t
And again consider the lossless case:

s  0   Substituting this into the above

2 1  2 1
cos i  cos t  cos t  cos i Squaring both sides
2 1 1  2
1 - sin    μμ
2
i
1 ε2
ε1
1 - sin 2 t  and using Snell's law to represent sin t
2

ε2 μ2
μ1 ε2  μ1 ε1  
1 - sin 2 i   1 -
μ2 ε1  μ2 ε2
sin 2  i   sin  i  ε1 μ1
μ1 μ2
The condition
 
μ2 μ1

ε2 μ1
that must be met to keep sin  i  1 is: 
ε1 μ2
When traveling from a less dense to a more dense medium, and if the
permeabilities are the same, there is no Brewster angle with horizontal
polarization.

10
 Notation for Working with 2-D Plane Waves
A plane wave propagating in 2-dimensional space at an angle
 can be represented by:
y
E  x, y,   E0e jk  x cos   ysin  

x

Direction of
plane-wave
propagation

Note that this form references phase to 0 at the origin

We will use this form to represent oblique incidence and to solve

problems

Example Problem
Two antennae are illuminated by a plane wave that is
incident at an angle  as shown. The antennas are
positioned such that when  = 0, the upper antenna will be
one-quarter wavelength closer to the source, and when  =
90, the bottom antenna will be on e-half wavelength closer to
the source as shown. Find the output of the summer, in dB
(referenced to the output when the signal from both
antennas are in phase) when  = 60

4


2  
Incident
Plane Wave

11
 Problem Solution
Impose your own coordinate system, referenced to the lower
antenna (i.e., assume phase = 0)
y
Upper Antenna
(-/4, /2)
Lower Antenna
(0, 0)

x


Plugging in the values for x,y, and , we can get the phase of the
signal at the upper antenna:
j
2
  4 cos60  2 sin 60
E   4 , 2 , 60   E0e
  


j  cos60 sin 60 
 E0  .356  j 0.934 
 j  0.616 
 E0e 2
 E0e

Problem Solution
Thus, the output of the summer will be:
1  j 0    .356  j 0.934    0.644  j0.934 
 0.644  j 0.934   1.134

Converting this to dB, referenced to the maximum output:

 output   1.134 
20log10    20log10    4.9
 max output   2 

Note that the difference in distance travelled by the plane wave is

x cos + y sin 

12