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Introduction to Electromagnetic Waves

The document introduces Maxwell's Equations and source-free wave equations, which describe the behavior of electromagnetic waves. It explains key concepts such as electric and magnetic fields, wavefronts, and plane waves, emphasizing the mathematical relationships governing these phenomena. Additionally, it covers the Helmholtz equation and the speed of light in free space.

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18 views6 pages

Introduction to Electromagnetic Waves

The document introduces Maxwell's Equations and source-free wave equations, which describe the behavior of electromagnetic waves. It explains key concepts such as electric and magnetic fields, wavefronts, and plane waves, emphasizing the mathematical relationships governing these phenomena. Additionally, it covers the Helmholtz equation and the speed of light in free space.

Uploaded by

lourdes.gerges
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Electromagnetic Waves

Lecture 𝟎𝟎 – Introduction

Dr. Elie Abou Diwan


Maxwell's Equations
MAXWELL’S EQUATIONS:

𝜕𝐵 Electric Field Intensity (𝑉 𝑚)


① 𝛻×𝐸 =−
𝜕𝑡 Magnetic Field Intensity (𝐴 𝑚) Permittivity 𝐹 𝑚

Current Density (𝐴 𝑚2 ) 𝐷 = ε𝐸
𝜕𝐷
② 𝛻×𝐻 =𝐽+
𝜕𝑡 Displacement Current Density (𝐴 𝑚2 ) 𝐵 = μ𝐻
Electric Flux Density (𝐶 𝑚2 )
③ 𝛻. 𝐷 = ρ Permeability 𝐻 𝑚
Volume Charge Density (𝐶 𝑚3 )

④ 𝛻. 𝐵 = 0 Magnetic Flux Density (𝑇 or 𝑉. 𝑠/𝑚2 )


Source-Free Wave Equations
SOURCE-FREE WAVE EQUATIONS: ρ = 𝟎 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝑱 = 𝟎

𝜕𝐵 𝜕𝐻 𝜕𝐻
① 𝛻×𝐸 =− = −μ ①: 𝛻 × 𝐸 = −μ
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡
𝜕𝐷 𝜕𝐸 𝜕 ② 𝜕 𝜕𝐸 𝜕2𝐸
② 𝛻×𝐻 = =ε 𝛻 × 𝛻 × 𝐸 = −μ 𝛻 × 𝐻 = −μ ε = −με 2
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡
③ 𝛻. 𝐷 = 0 ⇒ 𝛻. 𝐸 = 0 Vector
Identity = 𝛻 𝛻𝐸 − 𝛻 2 𝐸 = −𝛻 2 𝐸
③
④ 𝛻. 𝐵 = 0 ⇒ 𝛻. 𝐻 = 0
𝜕 2𝐸
𝛻 2 𝐸 − με 2 = 0 (Source-free wave equation for 𝐸)
𝜕𝑡
Source-Free Wave Equations (cont.)
2
2
𝜕 𝐸
𝛻 𝐸 − με 2 = 0
𝜕𝑡
𝜕 𝜕2
Phasors: → 𝑗ω → −ω2
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡 2
𝛻 2 𝐸 + μεω2 𝐸 = 0

𝛻2𝐸 + 𝑘2𝐸 = 0 (Helmholtz equation for 𝐸)

Wavenumber 𝑘 = ω με
Similarly: 𝛻 2 𝐻 + 𝑘 2 𝐻 = 0 (Helmholtz equation for 𝐻)
ω
In free-space 𝑘 = 𝑘0 where 𝑘0 is the free-space wavenumber, 𝑘0 = ω μ0 ε0 = 𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝑚
𝑐
1
where 𝑐 is the speed of light in free-space, 𝑐 = = 3 × 108 𝑚/𝑠
μ0 ε0
Wavefront
A wavefront is an imaginary surface on which all the points are in the same phase. The speed
with which the wavefront moves away from the source is called the speed of the wave.
Direction of Propagation

Wavefronts
Plane Wave
A plane wave is a wave that propagates in only one direction, with wavefronts that are planes
perpendicular to the direction in which the wave is traveling.
A sinusoidal plane wave is a special case of plane wave: a field whose value varies as a sinusoidal
function of time and of the distance from some fixed plane (the argument of the sinusoidal
function depends at the same time on the time and space coordinates).

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