Lecture 13 Electromagnetic Waves in Free Space

In this lecture you will learn:

Electromagnetic wave equation in free space Uniform plane wave solutions of the wave equation Energy and power of electromagnetic waves

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Basic Wave Motion

Consider a wave moving in the +x-direction: The wave travels a distance equal to one wavelength in one time period

a( x , t )

v = velocity of wave propagation = wavelength of the wave f = frequency of the wave T = period = 1/f Basic relation for wave motion:

v = velocity =

distance = = f time T

f =v
= 1 2 a( x , t ) v2 t 2

1-D wave equation:

2a ( x , t ) x 2

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Electromagnetic Wave Motion - I

r . o E = r . o H = 0

r r oH E = t r r r E H = J + o t

Time varying electric and magnetic fields are coupled - this coupling is responsible for the propagation of electromagnetic waves Electromagnetic Wave Equation: Assume free space:

=J=0

r r r r H o H 2 E = o o 2 E = o = t t t r 2 r 1 E c= 3 108 m/s E = o o 2 o o t r r 1 2 E E = 2 c t 2

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

r r 1 2 E E = 2 c t 2

Electromagnetic Wave Motion - II

Use the vector Identity: F = . F 2F

0 r r r 1 2 E . E 2E = 2 c t 2 r r 1 2 E 2E = 2 c t 2

r . o E = = 0

Equation for a wave traveling at speed c in free space

(1) (2)

2E x 2E x 2E x 1 2 Ex + + = 2 x 2 y 2 z 2 c t 2 2E y x 2 x + 2E y y 2 y + 2E y z 2 z =
2 1 Ey c 2 t 2

2 2 2 2 (3) E2z + E2z + E z = 1 E z 2 2 2

Wave equation is essentially three equations stacked together one for each component of the E-field

Wave must also satisfy: . E = 0 o

E x E y E z + + =0 x y z

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Electromagnetic Wave Motion - III

The H-field also satisfies a similar wave equation Start from Maxwells equations: E = Assume free space:

r =J=0 r r r r oE E 2 H = o H = = o o t t 2 t r r 2 H H = o o t 2 r r 1 2 H H = 2 c t 2

r oH t

r r r E H = J + o t

1 H ( . H ) 2H = 2 c t 2 r r
2

r . o H = 0

r r 1 2 H H= 2 c t 2
2
ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

General Solutions of Electromagnetic Wave Equation

Assume only x-component of the E-field:

r E = x Ex
The x-component cannot have x-dependence

r . o E = 0 r

E x =0 x

So assume: E = x E x (z , t ) And plug it into the wave equation:

r r 1 2 E 2E = 2 c t 2

To obtain:

2E x ( z , t ) 1 2 E x ( z , t ) = 2 z 2 c t 2

Solution is: E x (z , t ) = g (z c t ) c Any function g whose dependence on co-ordinate z and time t is in the form of (zct ) will satisfy the above equation Example: E x (z , t ) = Eo exp ( z c t )
ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Sinusoidal Solutions of Electromagnetic Wave Equation - I

2E x ( z , t ) 1 2 E x ( z , t ) = 2 z 2 c t 2

r E = x E x (z ct )

The most commonly used solutions are sinusoids, for example:

r 2 (z c t ) E = x E x (z ct ) = x Eo cos
This solution represents a wave that: i) ii) iii) iv) Has electric field pointing in x-direction Has wavelength Has frequency f = c/ Is moving in the +z-direction c

Eo
z

In space the electric field looks x as shown here (remember that the density of field lines correspond to the strength of the E-field)
ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Sinusoidal Solutions of Electromagnetic Wave Equation - II

The sinusoidal solution,

r 2 (z c t ) E = x E x (z ct ) = x Eo cos
can also be written as:

r 2 z 2 c 2 c E = x Eo cos t z t = x Eo cos c
Define:

=
To get:

2 c

= 2 f

and

k=

r E = x Eo cos( t k z )
Note that:

= angular frequency (units: radians/sec)

k = wave-vector (units: 1/m)

f =v

= kc

A dispersion relation

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Sinusoidal Solutions of Electromagnetic Wave Equation - III

What about the magnetic field? Recall the E and H-fields are coupled So an E-field must be accompanied by an H-field which can be calculated from the equation:

r r oH E = t

r r o E H = t r r r r o E oH or even from H = E = t t r Plug in the following solution for the E-field: E = x Eo cos( t k z ) r r k H 1 E sin( t k z ) = E = y o o o t r k o o H=y E cos( t k z ) = o c = = o o o o k r E H = y o cos( t k z ) o = impedance of free space 377

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Sinusoidal Solutions of Electromagnetic Wave Equation - IV

x E c

r E = x Eo cos( t k z )
r E H = y o cos( t k z )

z y H

E x
Cartoon depiction: H y These solutions of the wave equation are called uniform plane waves The E-field (and the H-field as well) is constant over any infinite plane that is parallel to the x-y plane in more technical terms, the surfaces of constant phase are infinite planes The pattern shown above moves with a velocity equal to
ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

=c

Sinusoidal Solutions of Electromagnetic Wave Equation - V

Consider the plane wave:

r E = x Eo cos( t k z )

r E H = y o cos( t k z )

If a person takes a snapshot of the wave in space at any time, say at t = 0, he will see E-field look like: z

r 2 E = x Eo cos(k z ) = x Eo cos z

If a person sits at one location, say z = 0, he will see an oscillating E-field in time that looks like: t

r 2 E = x Eo cos( t ) = x Eo cos t T

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Plane Waves in 3D - I
E x So far we have found one solution:

z
H y

What about plane waves with E-field pointing in direction n and traveling in some arbitrary direction in 3D ? n E
The answer is: H

r r r r E (r , t ) = n Eo cos t k .r

r k = k x x + k y y + kz z r r 2 2 2 2 k . k = k = k x + k y + kz r r = x x +y y +zz

Lets see if this solution satisfies the wave equation:

r r 1 2 E 2E = 2 c t 2 r r rr rr 2 k . k n Eo cos t k .r = 2 n Eo cos t k .r c r r 2 = k . k c 2 = k 2c 2 The solution can only be correct if: = k c = kc

)]

)]

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Plane Waves in 3D - II
The solution for a plane wave in 3D is:

r r r r E (r , t ) = n Eo cos t k .r

The solution must also satisfy:

r . o E = 0
Plug in the solution to check:

r k = k x x + k y y + kz z r r 2 2 2 2 k . k = k = k x + k y + kz r r = x x +y y +zz = kc

r r r . o E = o . n Eo cos t k . r r . o E = 0
provided

) ] = o (k . n )Eo cos( t k . rr )
r r

r k .n = 0 r r

The solution can only be correct if the unit vector n is perpendicular to k

The solution in fact corresponds to a plane wave traveling in the direction: k r With E-field pointing in the direction: n

r k .n = 0

E-field is perpendicular

E H

to the direction of travel

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Plane Waves in 3D - III

The solution for a plane wave in 3D is:

r r r r E (r , t ) = n Eo cos t k .r

r k = k x x + k y y + kz z r r 2 2 2 2 k . k = k = k x + ky + kz

= kc

r k .n = 0 r k

n
x H

2 = k

2
2 2 2 k x + ky + kz

y
ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

If the E-field for a plane wave solution in 3D is:

Plane Waves in 3D - IV r

r r r r E (r , t ) = n Eo cos t k .r

k = k x x + k y y + kz z r r 2 2 2 2 k . k = k = k x + ky + kz r k .n = 0

Then what is the magnetic field? Use the same old equation:

= kc

r r o E or even from H = t r r r r Plug in the following solution for the E-field: E (r , t ) = n Eo cos t k .r r r r r r k n H 1 Eo sin t k . r = E = o o t v r (k n ) r r r Eo cos t k . r H= k= kk r r oH E = t

r r r E H = k n o cos t k . r
o

Direction of H-field given by k n is also perpendicular to the direction of travel

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Plane Waves in 3D - V
E-field for a plane wave solution in 3D:

r r r r E (r , t ) = n Eo cos t k .r

)
)

r k = k x x + k y y + kz z r r 2 2 2 2 k . k = k = k x + ky + kz

H-field for a plane wave solution in 3D:

r r r r E H (r , t ) = k n o cos t k . r
o

= kc
r k .n = 0

E H

n k n

Questions: i) What about energy and power? ii) How much power per unit area does a plane wave carry? iii) What is the energy density of a plane wave? Try using the Poynting vector: S (r , t ) = E (r , t ) H (r , t )
ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

r r

r r

r r

(units: Joules/(m2-sec) or: Watts/m2 )

Power Carried By Plane Waves

E-field and H-field for a plane wave solution in 3D:

r r r r E (r , t ) = n Eo cos t k .r

r r r r E H (r , t ) = k n o cos t k . r
o

Poynting vector for a plane wave:

r r r r r r S (r , t ) = E (r , t ) H (r , t ) = n k n =k
2 Eo

Use the vector identity:

2 Eo o

r r cos2 t k . r

r r r r r r r r r A B C = B A .C C A . B

r r cos2 t k . r

E H

n k n

Power flows in the direction of the wave-vector Time average power per unit area of a plane wave: Usually one is interested in the time-average power per unit area:
2 2 r r r r E Eo S (r , t ) = k o cos2 t k . r = k o 2 o

cos2 ( t + ) = 1
2 0

2 1 = 2

2 cos ( t + ) dt

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

Power and Energy Density of Plane Waves

E-field and H-field for a plane wave solution in 3D:

r r r r E (r , t ) = n Eo cos t k .r

)
r

r r r r E H (r , t ) = k n o cos t k . r
o

Electric field energy density = We (r , t ) =

r r r r r r 1 1 2 o E (r , t ) . E (r , t ) = o Eo cos2 t k . r 2 2

)
)

Magnetic field energy density = Wm (r , t ) = Notice that:

r r r r r r 1 1 E2 o H (r , t ) . H (r , t ) = o o cos2 t k . r 2 2 2 o

r r We (r , t ) = Wm (r , t )

x E c

r r r r S (r , t ) = c (We (r , t ) + Wm (r , t ))
The electric and magnetic energy densities are moving at the speed c and this constitutes y the power of an electromagnetic plane wave z H

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

If the fields for a plane wave solution in 3D is:

Example: Plane Waves r

r r r r E (r , t ) = n Eo cos t k .r r r r r E H (r , t ) = k n o cos t k . r

k = k x x + k y y + kz z r r 2 2 2 2 k . k = k = k x + ky + kz r k .n = 0

= kc

Lets try to write solution for a plane wave that: i) ii) iii) iv) Is moving in the -x-direction Has E-field pointing in the y-direction Has E-field amplitude Ro Has wavelength o

(i) And (iv) imply: k = k x

and

k=

Wavevector is in the -x-direction

Answer is: E (r , t ) = y Ro cos( t + k x )

r r

z H
E

r r R H (r , t ) = z o cos( t + k x )

ECE 303 Fall 2007 Farhan Rana Cornell University

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