Maxwell’s Equations and their

Solutions
Electromagnetic field components
Components Notation Units of
measurement
Electric field E Volt/metre
Electric flux D Coulomb
density metre 2

Magnetic field H Ampere/metre

Magnetic flux B Tesla= Weber
density
metre2
Charge density  Coulomb
metre3
Current density J Ampere
metre2
 Material Properties
Some of the field components are related by the
properties of the medium in which they exist
B  H
D  E
J  E
   0 r   0  r
 Maxwell’s Equations

D  
Any stored electric charge gives
rise to an electric field

B  0
Magnetic field must exist in closed loops.
 B
xE  
t
Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction:

The e.m.f. Induced in a closed circuit

(the curl of the electric filed) is proportional
to the rate of change of the magnetic flux
threading the circuit.
 D
xH  J 
t

Ampere’s law:

A current (conduction current J) gives rise to

a closed loop of magnetic field.

Maxwell added displacement current density

∂D/∂t which exists in the air gap between
the plates of capacitors.
 The Solutions of Maxwell’s Equations

  ,0 J  ,0   0
In a non-conducting (perfect insulator) medium

  0, J  0,   0

The time dependence of any signal is sinusoidal.

With angular frequency of ω, all field will have

a time dependence of exp jωt
 E  0
H  0
xH  jE

xE   jH
 xxE   j (xH )
  E
2

Using vector identity:

xxE  (  E )   E 2

 E   E  0
2 2

Similarly:

 H   H  0
2 2
Rectangular Coordinates

Using the expansion of  in the

2

rectangular coordinates x, y, z

 E  E  E
2 2 2
 2  2   E
2

x 2
y z
 Ex  Ex  Ex
2 2 2
    E x
2

x 2
y 2
z 2

 Ey 2
 Ey
2
 Ey
2

    E y
2

x 2
y 2
z 2

 Ez  Ez  Ez
2 2 2
    E z
2

x 2
y 2
z 2
 Plane Wave Solution
When a variation of field quantities
is in only one direction, say, z

 
 0
x y

 E
2
  E
2

z 2
 Ex
2
  2
E x
z 2

 Ey
2

  E y
2

z 2

 Ez
2
  E z
2

z 2
 z  z
E x  Ae  Be

  Phase constant
   
2 2

    j
  Propagation constant
  Phase constant
  Attenuation constant
Electromagnetic field equations have a solution
for a wave that only varies in one direction.

Same as a transmission-line wave where the

direction of variation is the same as the
direction of propagation
 Field components of a Plane wave

Plane wave:

One in which the values of all field quantities

are constant over planes (wavefronts)
perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
 xE   jH
E z E y
  jH x
y z

E x E z
   jH y
z x
E y E x
   jH z
x y
 xH   jE
H z H y
  jE x
y z
H x H z
  jE y
z x

H y H x
  jE z
x y
Polarization of electromagnetic waves

Plane wave
y front
E

Direction of
x propagation

z B
Plane of polarization
Both E and B vectors can change direction
within yz-plane at a particular point as
the wave progresses

If such changes in direction are quite

random, the wave is said to be
unpolarized

If E and B vectors remain in the same

planes, the wave is linearly polarized
The plane of polarization is that
containing the E vector and the direction
of propagation

A circularly polarised wave is the

superposition of linearly polarized
components with waves of polarization at
right angles and with equal magnitudes
and a phase difference of π/2
 Phase velocity
The speed of movement of a point of constant
phase in the centre of a continuous wave.

It is not the speed at which information travels


vp 

     j
     j    

2 2 2

1
vp 
If   0,

      
2 2 2

    
 1
vp  
  
 Group velocity

The speed at which information

travels in a wave


vg 

For a plane wave propagating in z-direction
E y  H x
E x  H y
Ex 
 
Hy 
  Intrinsic impedance