Poynting Theorem

Poynting Theorem
The Poynting theorem is one of the most important results in EM theory. It tells
us the power flowing in an electromagnetic field.

Poynting's theorem stales that the net power flowing out of a given volume v
is
equal to the time rate of decrease in the energy stored within v minus the
conduction losses.

The quantity E X H is known as the Poynting vector S in watts per square meter
(W/m2)
S  EH
Poynting Theorem
B
 E  
t
D
 H  J 
t

From these we obtain

B
H     E   H 
t
D
E   H   J  E  E 
t
Poynting Theorem (cont.)
B
H     E   H 
t
D
E   H   J  E  E 
t
Subtract, and use the following vector identity:

H   E  E   H     E  H 

We then have:

B D
  E  H   J  E  H  E
t t
Poynting Theorem (cont.)
B D
   E  H   J  E  H  E
t t

Next, assume that Ohm's law applies for the electric current:
J  E

B D
   E  H     E  E   H  E
t t

or
B D
   E  H    E  H 
2
E
t t
Poynting Theorem (cont.)
B D
   E  H    E  H 
2
E
t t

From calculus (chain rule), we have that

D  E  1 
E  E   E  E
t  t  2 t
B  H  1 
H  H    H H
t  t  2 t

Hence we have
1  1 
   E  H    E    H H    E  E
2

2 t 2 t
Poynting Theorem (cont.)

1  1 
   E  H    E    H H    E  E
2

2 t 2 t

This may be written as

1  1  2
   E  H    E  
2 2
H  E
2 t 2 t
or

 1 2  1 2
   E  H    E    H     E 
2

t  2  t  2 
Poynting Theorem (cont.)

Final differential (point) form of the Poynting theorem:

 1 2  1 2
   E  H    E    H     E 
2

t  2  t  2 
Poynting Theorem (cont.)

Volume (integral) form

Integrate both sides over a volume and then apply the divergence theorem:

 1 2  1 2
   E  H    E    H     E 
2

t  2  t  2 

 1 2  1 2
    E  H  dV    E dV   
2
  H  dV    E  dV
V V V
t  2  V
t  2 

 1 2  1 2
  E  H  .dS     E dV     H  dV     E  dV
2

S V V
t  2  V
t  2 
Poynting Theorem (cont.)
Rate of increase, magnetic stored energy
S
Power in Dissipated power V
Rate of increase, electric stored energy

Physical interpretation: (Assume that S is stationary.)

Poynting Theorem (cont.)
Hence

   E  H  dS  power flowing into the region

S

Or, we can say that

  E  H  dS  power flowing out of the region

S

Define the Poynting vector: S  EH

Poynting Theorem (cont.)

S  EH

direction of power flow

E S

The units of S are [W/m2].

Power Flow

S  EH

surface S

n̂

The power P flowing through the surface S (from left to right) is:

P   S  nˆ dS
S
Time-Average Poynting Vector
Assume sinusoidal (time-harmonic) fields)

S  x, y , z , t   E  x, y , z , t   H  x, y , z , t 

E  x, y, z , t   Re  E  x, y, z  e jt 

H  x, y, z , t   Re  H  x, y, z  e jt 

From our previous discussion (notes 2) about time averages, we know that

1
S  t  E  t  H  t  Re  E  H* 
2
Complex Poynting Vector

Define the complex Poynting vector:

1
S   EH 
*

We then have that

S  x, y, z , t  = Re  S  x, y, z  