Poynting Theorem

• Start with one of Maxwell’s curl equations. (assuming a medium that

may be conductive)
𝜕D
∇×H=J+
𝜕𝑡
• Next, take the scalar product of both sides with E
𝜕D
E ∙∇×H=E ∙J+E ∙
POYNTING THEOREM • Recall the vector identity,
𝜕𝑡

∇ ∙ (E × H) = −E ∙ ∇ × H + H ∙ ∇ × E
• Use that identity in the left side of the previous equation,
𝜕D
H ∙ ∇ × E − ∇ ∙ (E × H) = J ∙ E + E ∙
𝜕𝑡
• But, recall Maxwell’s other curl equation
𝜕B
∇×E=−
𝜕𝑡
• And apply it to the equation, to get,
𝜕B 𝜕D
−H ∙ − ∇ ∙ (E × H) = J ∙ E + E ∙
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡
• Or
𝜕D 𝜕B
−∇ ∙ E × H = J ∙ E + E ∙ +H ∙
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡
1 3

1 3

Poynting Theorem Poynting Theorem

• The two time derivatives can be arranged as 𝜕E 𝜕1 2
𝜕D 𝜕 1 E ∙ =
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡 2
E
The Poynting theorem is one of the most important in EM theory. It E ∙ = ( D ∙ E)
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡 2 E⋅
𝜕D
= 𝜀 E⋅
𝜕E
=𝜀
1𝜕
E⋅E
tells us the power flowing in an electromagnetic field. 𝜕B 𝜕 1 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡 2 𝜕𝑡
𝜕B 𝜕H 1𝜕
H ∙ = ( B ∙ H) H⋅ = 𝜇 H⋅ =𝜇 H⋅H
𝜕t 𝜕t 2 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑡 2 𝜕𝑡

John Henry Poynting (1852-1914) • Applying these to the equation, we will get
𝜕 1 𝜕 1
John Henry Poynting was an English physicist. He was a −∇ ∙ E × H = J ∙ E + D ∙ E + ( B ∙ H)
𝜕𝑡 2 𝜕t 2
professor of physics at Mason Science College (now the
University of Birmingham) from 1880 until his death. • Finally, integrate throughout a volume
𝜕 1 𝜕 1
He was the developer and eponym of the Poynting vector, − න ∇ ∙ E × H 𝑑𝑣 = න J ∙ E 𝑑𝑣 + න D ∙ E 𝑑𝑣 + න ( B ∙ H) 𝑑𝑣
which describes the direction and magnitude of 𝜕𝑡 2 𝜕t 2
𝑣𝑜𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙
electromagnetic energy flow and is used in the Poynting
theorem, a statement about energy conservation for • The Divergence theorem is then applied to the left side, and the spatial
electric and magnetic fields. This work was first published integration and time differentiation are interchanged in the right side
in 1884. He performed a measurement of Newton's
gravitational constant by innovative means during 1893. In 𝑑 1 𝑑 1
1903 he was the first to realize that the Sun's radiation can − ර E × H ∙ 𝑑𝑆 = න J ∙ E 𝑑𝑣 + න D ∙ E 𝑑𝑣 + න B ∙ H 𝑑𝑣
𝑑𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡 2
draw in small particles towards it. This was later coined the 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑣𝑜𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙 𝑣𝑜𝑙
Poynting-Robertson effect. 𝑃𝑜𝑦𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒
1𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑜ℎ𝑚𝑖𝑐 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑝𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
2𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑
3𝑟𝑑 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑
2 4

2 4

1
 Poynting Theorem Poynting Theorem

Final volume form of Poynting theorem:

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

2 𝜕 1 2 𝜕 1 2
ර E × H ⋅ 𝑛𝑑𝑆
ො = − න 𝜎 E 𝑑𝑉 − න 𝜇H 𝑑𝑉 − න 𝜀E 𝑑𝑉
𝜕𝑡 2 𝜕𝑡 2
𝑆 𝑉 𝑉 𝑉

2 𝜕 1 2 𝜕 1 2
∇ ⋅ E × H = −𝜎 E 𝜇H − 𝜀E
𝜕𝑡 2 𝜕𝑡 2

For a stationary surface:

2 𝜕 1 𝜕 1 2
ර E × H ⋅ 𝑛𝑑𝑆
ො = − න 𝜎 E 𝑑𝑉 − න 𝜇H 2 𝑑𝑉 − න 𝜀 E 𝑑𝑉
𝜕𝑡 2 𝜕𝑡 2
𝑆 𝑉 𝑉 𝑉

5 7

5 7

Poynting Theorem Poynting Theorem

Volume (integral) form Physical interpretation: (Assume that S is stationary.)

Integrate both sides over a volume and then apply the divergence theorem: 2 𝜕 1 𝜕 1 2
− ර E × H ⋅ 𝑛𝑑𝑆
ො = න 𝜎 E 𝑑𝑉 + න 𝜇H 2 𝑑𝑉 + න 𝜀 E 𝑑𝑉
𝜕𝑡 2 𝜕𝑡 2
𝜕 1 2 2 𝜕 1 2 𝑆 𝑉 𝑉 𝑉
∇ ⋅ E × H = −𝜎 E 𝜇H − 𝜀E
𝜕𝑡 2 𝜕𝑡 2

2 𝜕 1 2 𝜕 1 2
න ∇ ⋅ E × H 𝑑𝑉 = − න 𝜎 E 𝑑𝑉 − න 𝜇H 𝑑𝑉 − න 𝜀E 𝑑𝑉 Power dissipation as heat (Joule's law)
𝜕𝑡 2 𝜕𝑡 2
𝑉 𝑉 𝑉 𝑉

Rate of change of stored magnetic energy

2 𝜕 1 2 𝜕 1 2 Rate of change of stored electric energy

ර E × H ⋅ 𝑛𝑑𝑆
ො = − න 𝜎 E 𝑑𝑉 − න 𝜇H 𝑑𝑉 − න 𝜀E 𝑑𝑉
𝜕𝑡 2 𝜕𝑡 2
𝑆 𝑉 𝑉 𝑉
Right-hand side = power flowing into the region V.
6 8

6 8

2
 Poynting Theorem Power Flow

Hence
Sӈ = E × H
− ර E × H ⋅ 𝑑𝑺 = power flowing into the region
𝑆

Surface S
Or, we can say that

ර E × H ⋅ 𝑑𝑺 = power flowing out of the region

𝑆
𝑛ො

Sӈ ≡ E × H The power P flowing through the surface S (from left to right) is:
Define the Poynting vector:

P 𝑡 = න S ⋅ 𝑛𝑑𝑆
ො
ර Sӈ ⋅ 𝑑𝑺 = power flowing out of the region 𝑆
𝑆

9 11

9 11

Poynting Vector Time-Average Poynting Vector

Sӈ = E × H
Assume sinusoidal (time-harmonic) fields)

E 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧, 𝑡 = Re 𝐸ӈ 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 𝑒 𝑗𝜔𝑡
Direction of power flow

E Sӈ
H 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧, 𝑡 = Re 𝐻ӈ 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 𝑒 𝑗𝜔𝑡

H
From our previous discussion about time averages, we know that
1
Sӈ 𝑡 = E 𝑡 ×H 𝑡 = Re 𝐸ӈ × 𝐻ӈ ∗
2
The unit of S is [W/m2].

𝐸𝑥 𝒂𝒙 + 𝐻𝑦 𝒂𝒚 = 𝑆𝑧 𝒂𝒛

10 12

10 12

3
 Complex Poynting Vector Note on Circuit Theory

Define the complex Poynting vector: Although the Poynting vector can always be used to calculate power flow, at low
frequency circuit theory can be used, and this is usually easier.
1
𝑆ӈ ≡ 𝐸ӈ × 𝐻ӈ ∗
2
Example (low frequency circuit):
𝑃
𝐼

The unit of S is [VA/m2]. + 𝑍𝐿

𝑉 −
We then have that 𝑧

Sӈ 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧, 𝑡 = Re 𝑆ӈ 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧
𝑆
1
𝑃=න 𝐸ӈ × 𝐻ӈ ∗ ⋅ 𝑧𝑑𝑆
ӈƸ
2
𝑆
Note: (low frequency fields)
The imaginary part of the complex Poynting vector corresponds to the 1 ∗
𝑃= 𝑉𝐼
VARS flowing in space. 2
The second form is much easier to calculate!
13 15

13 15

Complex Power Flow

• In a lossy dielectric, the E and H amplitudes are given by
• Ex = Eoe-αzcos(ωt – βz + θ1)
1 • Hy = Hoe-αzcos(ωt – βz + θ2)
𝑆ӈ = 𝐸 × 𝐻∗ • Therefore,
2
E x H = [Eoe-αzcos(ωt – βz + θ1) Hoe-αzcos(ωt – βz + θ2)] az
Surface S
E x H = [EoHoe-2αzcos(ωt – βz + θ1) cos(ωt – βz + θ2)] az
• Recall Trigonometric Identity
1
• 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐵 = [cos 𝐴 + 𝐵 + cos 𝐴 − 𝐵 ]
2
𝑛ො • Therefore,
1 1
• E x H = EoHoe-2αz[ cos(2ωt – 2βz + θ1 + θ2) + cos(θ1 - θ2)] az
2 2
The complex power P flowing through the surface S (from left to right) is: • To get power density Sz, integrate over one cycle
1 𝑇 1 1
• 𝑆 = ‫׬‬0 EoHoe−2αz[ cos(2ωt – 2βz + θ1 + θ2) + cos(θ1 − θ2)]𝑑𝑡
𝑃 = න 𝑆 ⋅ 𝑛𝑑𝑆
ො 𝑇 2 2
Re P = Watts 1 𝑇 1
𝑆
Im P = Vars • 𝑆= ‫ ׬‬E H e−2αz[ 2
𝑇 0 o o
cos(θ1 − θ2)]𝑑𝑡
EoHoe−2αz
• 𝑆= cos(θ1 − θ2)
2
14 16

14 16

4
 • But intrinsic impedance,
𝐸𝑜
• η=
𝐻𝑜
EoHoe−2αz
• 𝑆= cos(θn)
2
𝐸𝑜
• And, 𝐻𝑜 =
η
Eo 𝐸𝑜 −2αz
• 𝑆= ( )(e )cos(θn)
2 η
• Finally, the time-average power density is,

1 𝐸𝑜 2 −2αz
𝑆𝑧 = ( )(e )cos(θn)
2 η

17

17

Lossless Medium
𝜇𝑜
• ∝= 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 η =
𝜖𝑜

1 𝐸𝑜 2 −2αz
𝑆𝑧 = ( )(e )cos(θn)
2 η

𝐸𝑜 2
𝑆𝑧 = ( )
2η

18

18