Poynting Vector
Wave intensity I = time average over one or more cycle
<sin2(kx - t)> = 1/2 then <E2> = Emax2/2 and <B2> = Bmax2/2
Iav = uav c =
E max Bmax
2 0
Define vector with magnitude= power per unit area (J/s.m2 =
W/m2)
2
Intensity
E
Its direction is the direction of propagation of the EM wave
Its magnitude varies in time
Its magnitude reaches a maximum at the same instant as E and B
Radiation Momentum and pressure
EM waves transport momentum pressure on a surface
Complete absorption on a surface: total transported energy U
in time interval t total momentum p = U / c
Radiation Pressure = force per unit area
S = (dU/dt)/A and P = S / c
Perfectly reflecting surface: momentum of incoming and
reflected light p = U/c total transferred momentum p = 2U/c
and P = 2S/c
Direct sunlight pressure ~5 x 10-6 N/m2
The EM Spectrum
Gamma rays: ~ 10-14- 10-10 m
Source: radioactive nuclei
cause serious damage to living tissues
Source:
atoms and
molecules
Human eye
Visible range
from red (700
nm) to violet
(400 nm)
X-rays: ~10-12 -10-8 m
source: deceleration of high-energy
electrons striking a metal target
Diagnostic tool in medicine
UV ~ 6 x 10-10 - 4 x 10-7 m
Most UV light from the sun is absorbed
in the stratosphere by ozone
Infrared: ~ 7 x 10-7-10-3 m
Sources: hot objects and molecules
Microwaves: ~10-4 -0.3 m
sources: electronic devices
radar systems, MW ovens
Radio:
~ 10 - 0.1 m
Sources:
charges
accelerating
through
conducting
wires
Radio and TV
Polarization of Light Waves (Sec 31.7)
Linearly polarized waves: E-field oscillates at all times in the
plane of polarization
Any two waves can be superposed to make a third, or a single
wave decomposed into two.
Unpolarized light
E-field in random
directions
Is a superposition
of waves with E
vibrating
in many different
directions
Linearly
polarized
light
E-field has one
spatial
orientation
Circular and elliptical polarization
Circularly polarized light: superposition of 2 waves of equal
amplitude with orthogonal linear polarizations, and 90 out of phase.
The tip of E describes a circle (counterclockwise = RH and
clockwise=LH depending on y component ahead or behind)
The electric field rotates in time with constant magnitude.
If amplitudes differ elliptical polarization
Producing polarized light
Polarization by selective absorption: material that transmits
waves whose E-field vibrates in a plain parallel to a certain
direction and absorbs all others
This polarization
absorbed
This polarization
transmitted
transmission axis
Long-chain hydrocarbon
molecules
Polaroid sheet
(Land 1938)
DEMO with MW generator and metal grid
pick up antenna connected to Ammeter
Metal grid
MW generator
If the wires of the grid are parallel to the plane of polarization the grid absorbs
the E-component (electrons oscillate in the wire).
The same thing happens to a polaroid: the component parallel
to the direction of the chains of hydrocarbons is absorbed.
If the grid is horizontal the Ammeter will measure a
This
not null current since the wave reaches the antenna
polarization
absorbed
pick-up
This polarization
transmitted
transmission axis
Detecting polarized light
Ideal polarizer transmits waves with E parallel to transmission axis and
absorbs those with E axis
Relative orientation of axis of polarizer and analyzer determines intensity of
transmitted light.
Transmitted intensity: I = I0cos2 I0 = intensity of polarized beam on analyzer
(Malus law)
Allowed component
parallel to analyzer axis
Polaroid sheets
Relative orientation of polarizers
Transmitted amplitude is Eocos
(component of polarization along polarizer
axis)
Transmitted intensity is Iocos2
( square of amplitude)
Perpendicular polarizers give zero intensity.
Polarization by reflection
Unpolarized light reflected
from a surface becomes
partially polarized
Degree of polarization
depends on angle of
incidence
If reflected and refracted
beams are orthogonal
complete polarization occurs
Unpolarized
Incident light
Reflection
polarized with
E-field
parallel to
surface
n
Refracted
light
Reducing glare
A polarizer can
substantially reduce
intensity of reflections,
since the reflections are
partially polarized.
Transmission axis
vertical
Sunlight reflected from water, glass,
snow is partially polarized. If
surface is horizontal the E-field
vector of reflected light has strong
horizontal component.
Polarized glasses: vertical
transmission axis absorbs strong
horizontal component
Reflected light can be eliminated!
Polarization by scattering
When light hits a material electrons
absorb and reradiate part of the light.
The sky appears blue due to scattering of
light on air and resulting partially polarized
light.
Short wavelengths (blue) are scattered
more intensely than red.
Looking far from the Sun we see mainly scattered light blue sky
Looking towards the Sun the light that survives is weighted towards red
because most of the blue light has been scattered
So different directions relative to Sun have different polarizations.
Some insects can detect this polarization and use it to navigate.
Tips for the final
about 35% of new material: B-fields, B produced by a current, forces
between currents, torque on a loop, inductance and RL circuits, Ampere
and Ampere-Maxwells law (time dependent fields), EM waves, Poynting
vector, energy density in E and B field, radiation pressure
65% Electric Fields, Potential, Potential energy, Gauss law, DC circuits,
Resistance and capacitance, RC and R circuits, Joule law and Joule
heating, wave functions and probability, Schoredinger equation, atom,
general relativity, gravity
see [Link] see
grading policy
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