CH 8.

Plane Electromagnetic
Waves

Chap 8.1~8.3

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 8.1 Introduction
The main concern of this chapter 
  1  E
2
- The source-free wave equation for :E 2 E  2 2  0
- The study of the behavior of plane waves. c t
Specification of study
- The propagation of time-harmonic plane wave fields in an unbounded homogeneous medium. ( intrinsic i
mpedance, attenuation constant, phase constant )
- The meaning of skin depth, Poynting vector and power flux density.
- Behavior of a plane wave incident normally on a plane boundary. ( reflection and refraction of plane wav
e) 
Uniform plane wave : A particular solution of Maxwell’s equations with E assuming the
same direction, same magnitudeand same phase in infinite planes perpendicular to the direction
of propagation. ( similarly for H )

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 7-7.3 SOURCE-FREE FIELDS IN SIMPLE MEDIA

If the wave is in a simple nonconducting medium with ε and μ (J=0,ρ=0, σ=0),


B  H  
 E    E     E   j H
t t
 
  D  E  
 H  J f   H     H  j E
t t
 
D  f  E  0

E  0

B  0  
 H  0 H  0

Then, 
 1 2 E  
 E 2
2
0 
u  1/  u t 2  Ek E 0
2 2
k    
   u
 1 2 H  H k H 0
2 2 wavenumber
 H 2
2
0
u t 2
Homogeneous vector Helmholtz’s equations.

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 8.2 Plane Waves in Lossless Media

In nonconducting source free medium :   0, J  0,   0
- the source-free wave equation for free space becomes a Helmholtz’s equation. (from time-ha
rmonic Maxwell’s equations)
 
 E  k0 E  0
2 2

 2
k0 : free  space wavenumber k 0    0 0   ( rad / m)
c 
  2 2 2  For the component Ex (in Cartesian coordinates)
 E  aˆ x  2  2  2  E x
2

 x y z   2 2 2 2
 2    k 0  E x  0.
 x y z
2 2
 2 2 2  
 aˆ y  2  2  2  E y
 x y z  For a uniform plane wave
(uniform magnitude, constant phase,
 2 2 2  in the plane surfaces perpendicular to z.)
 aˆ z  2  2  2  E z
 x y z 
 2 E x / x 2  0 and  2 Ex / y 2  0 .

d 2 Ex
 k 2
0 Ex  0. ( E x is function of ' z ')
dz 2
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 8.2 Plane Waves in Lossless Media
d 2 Ex
 k 2
0 Ex  0. ( E x is function of ' z ')
dz 2
- the solution : Ex ( z )  E x ( z )  E x ( z )  E0 e  jk0 z  E0e jk0 z .
The real time representation of the first phasor term on the right side of the solution. (using
.) cos t
E x ( z , t )  e[ E x ( z )e jt ]
 e[ E0 e j (t  k0 z ) ]  E0 cos(t  k0 z ) (V / m).
Wave traveling in positive z direction.
E(V/m)
* The red point is looked

∙∙∙∙∙∙
A T0 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 like that point is moving.
Ex  E0 cos(t  k0 z )
O Z(m)
for red points, t  k0 z  constant
-A
 dt  k0 dz  0

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 8.2 Plane Waves in Lossless Media
 dt  k0 dz  0

dz  1
up     c  3  108 (m / s ). (Phase velocity in free space)
dt k0 0 0

The definition of wavenumber.

- the number of wavelengths in a complete cycle.

 2 f 2
k0   0 0    (rad / m) - this equation are valid without the subscript 0 if the medium is a
c f 0 0 lossless material such as a perfect dielectric, instead of free space.

In the solution of Helmholtz’s equation, Eq. (8-7),

Ex ( z )  Ex ( z )  Ex ( z )  Ex e  jk0 z  Ex e jk0 z .
- the second phasor term on the right side represents a sinusoidal wave traveling in the –z direction with the same velocity c.

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 8.2 Plane Waves in Lossless Media
  
The magnetic field can be found from Eq. (7-104a),   E   j H
  
ax ay az
      1 Ex ( z )
 E  0 0   j0 (a x H x  a y H y  a z H z ), 
H  0, H 
, H z  0.
z x y
 j0 z
Ex ( z ) 0 0
Ex ( z ) 
 ( E0 e  jk0 z )   jk0 Ex ( z ).
k0   0 0 0 1 z z
H y ( z )  Ex ( z )    E x ( z ) ( A / m).
0 0 0 0

Intrinsic impedance of the free space, 0

0  
0 0
0   120  377 ()
- η0 is a real number, H y ( z ) is in phase with Ex ( z ). 0
1 
The instantaneous expression for H H y ( z )  E x ( z ) ( A / m).
0
   - for a uniform plane wave the ratio of the magnitudes of
H ( z , t )  a y H y ( z , t )  a y e[ H y ( z )e jt ]
E and H is the intrinsic impedance of the medium.
 E0
 ay cos(t  k0 z ) ( A / m). - H is perpendicular to E and both are normal to the direction of propagation.
0

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 Ex.8-1 p.358

E = axEx propagates in a lossless simple media (εr =4, μr =1, σ=0) in the +z direction. Assume sinusoidal 100 MHz an
d peak 104 (V/m) at t =0 and z = 1/8.
(a) Instantaneous expression for E
(b) Instantaneous expression for H
(c) Location where Ex is a positive maximum when t = 10-8 (s) 
Sol) (a) Sol) (b) H  a y H y  a y Ex /     /   0 /  r  60
 4
k0     r  r  (rad / m)
 c 3  104 4 1
E ( z , t )  ax Ex  ax 104 cos(2 108 t  k0 z  ) (V / m). H ( z, t )  a y cos[2 108 t  ( z  )] ( A / m).
60 3 8
peak at t  0 and z  1/ 8, 2 108 t  k0 z    0 Sol) (c) 4 1
2 108 (108 )  ( zm  )  2n
  kz  6 /  3 8
 4  13 3
E ( z, t )  ax104 cos(2 108 t  z ) zm   n (m) n  0,1, 2....
3 6 8 2
2 13
4 1    n (m),
 ax104 cos[2 108 t  ( z  )] (V / m). k 8
3 8

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 8.2 Plane Waves in Lossless Media

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 8.2 Plane Waves in Lossless Media
8-2.1 Doppler Effect
When there is relative motion between a time-harmonic source and a receiver, the frequency
detected by the receiver tends to be different from that emitted by the source.

u T` u
θ
uΔt
θ
r`
T
r0 r0
At t=0 R At t=Δt R
- Let us assume that the source T of a time-harmonic wave of a frequency f moves with a velocity u at an angle θ.

- the maximum value of electromagnetic wave will reach R at t1=r0/c.

- new position T`, the next maximum value of wave emitted by T` at Δt will reach R at t2. (f = 1/Δt)
1 r ut
t2  t  r `/ c  t  [r02  2r0 (ut ) cos   (u t ) 2 ]1/ 2 if (u t ) 2  r02 , t2  t  0 (1  cos  ).
c c r0
u
- the time elapsed at R, t ` t 2  t1  t (1  cos  ).
c
1 f  u 
f `   f 1  cos  
t `  u   c  RF speed gun, red-shift of star
 1  cos  
 c  (Taylor expansion)

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 8.2 Plane Waves in Lossless Media
8-2.2 Transverse Electromagnetic Waves
TEM wave : the E and H are perpendicular to each other, and
 both are transverse to the direction of propagation.
E
The phasor electric field intensity for a uniform plane wave pr
opagating in arbitrary direction.
    jkx x  jk y y  jk z z
H E ( x, y, z )  E0e .
- to satisfy the homogeneous Helmholtz’s equation,
 
k 2  k x2  k y2  k z2   2    
k  ax k x  a y k y  az k z  kan Wavenumber vector
In this case, is E perpendicular to the propagation direction?
- Radius (position) vector at any point on the plane
x    
R  ax x  a y y  a z z
 Plane of constant phase
R (phase front)    jk x x  jk y y  jk z z
0 E ( x, y , z )  E0e .

an P
y        

z E ( R )  E0 e  jk  R  E0e  jkan  R (V / m)

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 8.2 Plane Waves in Lossless Media
8-2.2 Transverse Electromagnetic Waves
- the equation of a plane normal to an , the direction of propagation. x
 
an  R  Length OP . = A constant 
  R
0
- In a charge-free region,  E  0 
   jka  R an P
E0  (e n
)0
y
  jka  R          j ( k x x  k y y  k z z )
 (e n )   a x  ay  az  e z
 x y z 
    j (k xk y k z )
  j ( a x k x  a y k y  a z k z )e x y z
  jkan  R
  jkan e
   jka  R  
 jk ( E0  an )e n  0 which requires an  E0  0.

E0 is transverse to the direction of propagation!

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 8.2 Plane Waves in Lossless Media
8-2.2 Transverse Electromagnetic Waves
 
- The magnetic field associated with E ( R) may be obtained from
Eq.(7-104a)   
  E   j H
  1   
H ( R)     E ( R)
j
  1    
or H ( R)  an  E ( R) ( A / m), where   ().
 k 

  1    jka  R
Finally, H ( R)  (an  E0 )e n ( A / m). by Eq. (8-26) & Eq. (8-29)


It is now clear
 that a uniform plane wave propagating in an arbitrary

direction, an , is a TEM wave with E  H and that both E and H are
normal to an .
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 8.2 Plane Waves in Lossless Media
8-2.3 Polarization of Plane Waves
 
When the E vector of the plane wave is fixed in the x-direction E  ax Ex ,
the wave is said to be linearly polarized in the x-direction.
Consider the superposition of two linearly polarized waves: one
polarized in the x-direction, and the other polarized in the y-direction
and lagging 90˚ in time phase.
- Phasor notation
    
E ( z )  ax E1 ( z )  a y E2 ( z )  ax E10e  jkz  a y jE20 e  jkz ,

where E10 and E20 are the amplitudes of the two linearly polarized waves.
- Instantaneous expression
  
E ( z , t )  e{[ ax E1 ( z )  a y E2 ( z )]e jt }
  
 ax E10 cos(t  kz )  a y E20 cos(t  kz  ).
2

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 8.2 Plane Waves in Lossless Media
8-2.3 Polarization of Plane Waves
   
E ( z , t )  ax E10 cos(t  kz )  a y E20 cos(t  kz  ).
2
  
- Set z=0, E (0, t )  a x E1 (0, t )  a y E2 (0, t )
 
 ax E10 cos(t )  a y E20 sin(t ).

E1 (0, t ) E2 (0, t )
- Analytically, cos(t )  , sin(t )  ,
E10 E20 y
- Which leads to the following equation for an ellipse: E(0,t)
ω
2 2
 E1 (0, t )   E2 (0, t )  E2
      1. α
 E10   E20  E1 x
0
    
E ( z )  a x E1 ( z )  a y E2 ( z )  ax E10e  jkz  a y jE20e  jkz ,
- Circularly polarized if E10  E20
E10  E20 <Circular polarization>
- Elliptically polarized if

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 8.2 Plane Waves in Lossless Media
8-2.3 Polarization of Plane Waves
E2 (0, t )
- When E10  E20 ,   tan 1   t.
E1 (0, t )
( E rotates at a uniform rate with an angular velocity ω in a counterclockwise direction.)
- When E2(z) leads E1(z) by 90˚ in time phase,
     
 jkz  jkz
E ( z )  ax E10 e  a y jE20e , E (0, t )  ax E10 cos(t )  a y E20 sin(t ).
(E will rotate with an angular velocity ω in a clockwise direction : left-hand or negative
circularly polarized wave.)

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 8.2 Plane Waves in Lossless Media
8-2.3 Polarization of Plane Waves

  
- If two waves are in space quadrature E (0, t )  (ax E10  a y E20 ) cos(t ).
,
but in time phase. y
E20
E20
tan 1
E10

0 E10 x

<Linear polarization>

P366 AM FM, TV antennas

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 8.3 Plane Waves in Lossy Media
In a source-free lossy medium, the homogeneous vector Helmholtz’s equation :
 2
 E  kc E  0
2
kc    c - complex wavenumber
- Propagation constant :   jkc  j  c (m 1 ).


- using Eq. (7-110), Eq. (7-114),  c    j   ` j ``

1/ 2 1/ 2
     `` 
    j   j  1    j  `  1  j
 j    ` 
Helmholtz’s equation using propagation constant :  E  E  0
2 2

    z  j  z α : attenuation constant (Np/m).

E  ax Ex  ax E0 e  z , Ex  E0 e e . β : phase constant (rad/m).

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 8.3 Plane Waves in Lossy Media
8-3.1 Low-Loss Dielectrics
A low-loss dielectric
- imperfect insulator with nonzero equivalent conductivity
 ``  ` or  /   1
  `` 1   ``  
2

- by using the binomial expansion:     j   j  ` 1  j    ,

 2 ` 8   `  
 `` 
 : Approximately proportional to the frequency.
2 `
 1   ``  2  : deviates very slightly from the value  for a
    ` 1     .
 8   `   perfect (lossless) dielectric.
1/ 2
  ``    `` 
- Intrinsic impedance : c  1  j  1  j ( )
 `   `   `  
2 ` 

- The electric and magnetic field intensities in a lossy dielectric are thus not in
time phase, as they are in a lossless medium.
1  1   ``  
2
- Phase velocity : 
up   1     ( m / s).
  `  8  `
  

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 8.3 Plane Waves in Lossy Media
8-3.2 Good Conductors
1/ 2
  
A medium for which  /   1,     j   j  1  
 j 
 1 j
  j   j    j  (e j / 2 )1/ 2  e j / 4  (1  j ) / 2
j 2
    j   (1  j )  f  ,      f  . - Intrinsic impedance :c    j
 (1  j )
 f
 (1  j )

().
c   

phase angle of 45˚. Hence the magnetic field intensity lags behind the electric field intensity by 45˚.
- Phase velocity in a good conductor - Wavelength in a good conductor
 for copper 
 for copper at 3 MHz 
  5.80 107 ( S / m), 2 u p 
  2 (m).
 2  f f    0.24 (mm),
(m / s),   4 10 ( H / m),
7
up  
    100 (m) in air.
u p  720 ( m / s) at 3 ( MHz ),
 about twice the velocity of sound in air.
- Skin depth : due to e-αz, the amplitude of a wave will be attenuated by e –1 =0.368 when it travels a
distance δ=1/α (skin depth) in good conductor and at high frequency.

1

1 1 
(m).   (m).
  f   2

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 Ex. 8-4, p370 – Crimson Tide

E = ax100 cos(107πt) (V/m) @z=0, propagating + z direction in seawater (εr = 72, μr = 1, σ = 4 (S/m))
(a) Attenuation constant, phase constant, intrinsic impedance, phase velocity, wavelength, skin depth
  4
  107  (rad/s), f   / 2  5 106 (Hz),    200 1, good conductor!
  0 r 7 1 9 
10  10  72
 36 
   f   8.89 (Np/m) c  (1  j )  f  /    e j 4 ()   2 /   0.707 (m),
   f   8.89 (rad/m) u   /   3.53  106 (m/s)  =1/  0.112 (m)
p

(b) Distance at which the amplitude of E is 1% of its value at z = 0.

e z1 0.01 , z1  (1/  ) ln100  0.518 (m)

(c) Expression for E(0.8, t) and H(0.8, t). E ( z )  ax100e z e j  z
  
E ( z, t )  Re[ E ( z )e jt ]  ax100e  z cos(t   z ), E (0.8, t )  ax 0.082cos(107  t  0.8 ) (V/m)

H  a y H y , H y ( z , t )  Ex ( z , t ) / c ( real/phasor(complex))
EM Field attenuates very rapidly @5 MHz.
jt
H y ( z )  Ex ( z ) / c , H y ( z , t )  Re[ Ex ( z )e / c ] Hard to communicate with submarine.
H y (0.8)  100e 0.8 e  j 0.8  /( e j / 4 )  0.082e  j 7.11 /( e j / 4 )  0.026e  j1.61 Communication with 30~300 Hz wave
 Movie ‘Crimson Tide’
H (0.8, t )  a y 0.026 cos(107  t  1.61)

Chung-Ang University Field & Wave Electromagnetics

 8.3 Plane Waves in Lossy Media
8-3.3 Ionized Gases
Ionosphere : from 50 to 500 (km) in altitude, layers of ionized gases. This layers consist of
free electrons and positive ions.
- Ionized gases with equal electron and ion densities are called plasma.
- In ionosphere, the electrons are accelerated more by the electric fields of electromagnetic
waves for communication.
Troposphere:~20 km, Stratosphere: 20~50 Km
An electron of charge –e in a time-harmonic electric field (mass m, in x-direction, angular
frequency ω.)

 d 2x   e   
eE  m 2  m 2 x or x  2 E where E and x are phasors.
dt m  
- Such a displacement gives rise to an electric dipole moment: p  ex.
  Ne 2 
- If there are N electrons per unit volume, the polarization vector: P  Np   2 E.
m
    Ne 2     p2   Ne 2
D   0 E  P   0 1  2  E   0  1  2  E , where  p  (rad / s ).
  
 m  0     m 0

 p 1 Ne2
- Plasma frequency: fp   ( Hz ).
2 2 m 0

Chung-Ang University Field & Wave Electromagnetics

 8.3 Plane Waves in Lossy Media
8-3.3 Ionized Gases
- The equivalent permittivity of the ionosphere or plasma,   p2   f p2 
 p   0 1  2    0  1  2  ( F / m).
 f 
2
  f
- The propagation constant:   j  0 1  p  ,    
 f 
0
p 
- The intrinsic impedance: 2
 f 
1  p  .
 f 

If f  f p ,  becomes purely real. (attenuation without propagation)

Ex  E0 e  z e j z . p becomes purely imaginary. (reactive load with no transmission of power)

( f p: cutoff frequency.)

If f >fp, γ becomes purely imaginary. (electromagnetic waves propagate unattenuated i

n the plasma.
Using the value of e, m,  0: f p  9 N ( Hz ).
- The electron density of ionosphere range from 10 10/m3 to 1010/m3.
- For communication beyond the ionosphere, we must use frequencies much higher
than 9 (MHz).
- The signal with frequencies lower than 0.9 (MHz) propagate very far around the earth
by reflections at the ionosphere’s boundary and the earth’s surface (HAM).
Chung-Ang University Field & Wave Electromagnetics