Electromagnetic Theory for M.
Sc Course – CH10 College of Education – Physics Department
Plan Waves in Lossless Media
The properties of an electromagnetic wave, such as its phase velocity v and
wavelength λ, depend on the angular frequency ω and the medium's three
constitutive parameters: ϵ, μ, σ. If a medium through which the uniform plane
wave is propagating ,is perfect dielectric (which is also called lossless dielectric),
then the conductivity is zero, i.e. σ = 0. This means that the wave does not suffer
any attenuation as it travels and hence the medium is said to be lossless .Because in
a lossless medium 𝝐𝒄 = 𝝐 , equation (14) becomes,
𝜸𝟐 = −𝝎𝟐 𝝁𝝐
Let the permittivity and the permeability of the medium be 𝝐 = 𝝐𝟎 𝝐𝒓 and
𝝁 = 𝝁𝟎 𝝁𝒓 .
The propagation constant γ is given by,
𝜸 = √𝒊𝝎𝝁(𝟎 + 𝒊𝝎𝝐) = ∓𝒊𝝎√𝝁𝝐
For lossless media, it is customary to define the wavenumber K as,
𝒌 = 𝝎√𝝁𝝐 ……………………………………………………..…………. (18)
Thus, 𝜸 = 𝜶 + 𝒊𝜷 = ∓𝒊𝝎√𝝁𝝐 …………………………………….. (*)
Where α is the attenuation constant and β is phase constant.
In view of equation (18) and 𝜸𝟐 = −𝒌𝟐 , equation (15) becomes,
𝜵𝟐 𝑬 + 𝒌𝟐 𝑬 = 𝟎 ……………………………………………….……....…. (19)
From equation(*) it is clear that, the propagation constant is purely imaginary. This
indicates that, in a perfect dielectric medium, the attenuation constant α is zero.
Then, α=0 and 𝒌 = 𝝎√𝝁𝝐 .
Similarly, an intrinsic impedance for a perfect dielectric medium is given by;
𝒊𝝎𝝁 𝝁
𝜼=√ =√ 𝜴
𝟎+𝒊𝝎𝝐 𝝐
Thus, the intrinsic impedance η is real resistive. That means the phase angle of
intrinsic impedance is zero. But the phase angle of intrinsic impedance is zero
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Electromagnetic Theory for M.Sc Course – CH10 College of Education – Physics Department
means phase difference between E and H is zero. This means that, for a perfect
dielectric, both the fields E and H are in phase.
Since for perfect dielectric, σ=0, i.e. the attenuation constant α=0. Then, as the
wave propagates, only the phase β changes. Thus, no attenuation i.e. α=0 means no
loss. So perfect dielectric medium is also called lossless dielectric.
The velocity of propagation in the perfect dielectric is given by,
𝟏 𝝎
𝒗= =
√𝝁𝝐 𝒌
If λ is the wavelength of one cycle of the propagating wave, then velocity is given
by:
𝒗 = 𝝀𝒇 m/sec
Uniform Plane Waves
For an electric field phasor decomposed in its Cartesian coordinates as,
𝑬 = 𝑬𝒙 𝒂𝒙 + 𝑬𝒚 𝒂𝒚 + 𝑬𝒛 𝒂𝒛 …………………………………………….… (20)
Substitution of equation (12) into equation (19)gives,
𝝏𝟐 𝝏𝟐 𝝏𝟐
(𝝏𝒙𝟐 + 𝝏𝒚𝟐 + 𝝏𝒛𝟐 )(𝑬𝒙 𝒂𝒙 + 𝑬𝒚 𝒂𝒚 + 𝑬𝒛 𝒂𝒛 ) + 𝒌𝟐 (𝑬𝒙 𝒂𝒙 + 𝑬𝒚 𝒂𝒚 + 𝑬𝒛 𝒂𝒛 ) = 𝟎 ……….(21)
To satisfy equation (21), each vector component on the left hand side of the
equation must vanish .Hence,
𝝏𝟐 𝝏𝟐 𝝏𝟐
( 𝟐
+ 𝟐
+ + 𝒌𝟐 )𝑬𝒙 = 𝟎 …………………………………………... (22)
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛𝟐
And similar expressions apply to Ey and Ez.
A uniform plan wave is characterized by electric and magnetic fields that
have uniform properties at all points across an infinite plane.
If happens to be the x-y plane, then E and H do not vary with x and y. Hence,
𝝏𝑬𝒙 𝝏𝑬𝒙
= 𝟎 and = 𝟎 and equation (22) reduced to,
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
𝒅𝟐 𝑬𝒙
+ 𝒌𝟐 𝑬𝒙 = 𝟎 …………………………………………………….…... (23)
𝒅𝒛𝟐
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Electromagnetic Theory for M.Sc Course – CH10 College of Education – Physics Department
Similar expressions apply to Ey, Hx, and Hy . The remaining components of E and
H are zero; that is, Ez=Hz=0 . To show that Ez=0, let us consider the zـcomponent
of equation (6d),
𝝏𝑯𝒚 𝝏𝑯𝒙
𝒂𝒛 ( − ) = 𝒂𝒛 𝒊𝝎𝝐𝑬𝒛 ……………………………………………… (24)
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
𝝏𝑯𝒚 𝝏𝑯𝒙
Since = 𝟎 and = 𝟎 , it follows that Ez=0 . A similar examination
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
involving equation (6b) reveals that Hz=0.
This means that a plane wave has no electric field or magnetic field
components along its direction of propagation.
For the phasor quantity Ex, the general solution of the ordinary differential
equation given by equation (23) is,
+ −𝒊𝒌𝒛
𝑬𝒙 (𝒛) = 𝑬+ −
𝒙 (𝒛) + 𝑬𝒙 (𝒛) = 𝑬𝒙𝟎 𝒆 + 𝑬−
𝒙𝟎 𝒆
𝒊𝒌𝒛
…………………..…. (25)
Where 𝑬+ 𝒙𝟎 (𝒛) and 𝑬−
𝒙𝟎 are constants can be determined from boundary
conditions.
The first term in equation(25), containing the negative exponential 𝒆−𝒊𝒌𝒛
represents a wave with amplitude 𝑬+ 𝒙𝟎 traveling in the +z-direction. Likewise, the
second term (with 𝒆𝒊𝒌𝒛 ) represents a wave with amplitude 𝑬− 𝒙𝟎 travelling in the
ـzـdirection. Assuming for the time being that E only has a component along x
(i.e. Ey=0 ) and that Ex is associated with a wave travelling in the +z-direction only
(i.e. 𝑬−
𝒙𝟎 = 0 ). Under these conditions,
+ −𝒊𝒌𝒛
𝑬(𝒛) = 𝒂𝒙 𝑬+
𝒙 (𝒛) = 𝒂𝒙 𝑬𝒙𝟎 𝒆 ………………………...…………….… (26)
To find the magnetic field H associated with this wave, we apply equation(6b)
with Ey=Ez=0,
𝒂𝒙 𝒂𝒚 𝒂𝒛
𝝏 𝝏 𝝏
𝜵×𝑬= 𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚 𝝏𝒛
= −𝒊𝝎𝝁(𝒂𝒙 𝑯𝒙 + 𝒂𝒚 𝑯𝒚 + 𝒂𝒛 𝑯𝒛 ) …………….…(27)
𝑬𝒙 𝟎 𝟎
For a uniform plan wave traveling in the +z-direction,
𝝏𝑬+
𝒙 (𝒛) 𝝏𝑬𝒙+ (𝒛)
= =𝟎
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚
Hence, equation(27) gives,
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Electromagnetic Theory for M.Sc Course – CH10 College of Education – Physics Department
𝑯𝒙 = 𝟎 ……………………………………………….…………….…… (28a)
𝟏 𝝏𝑬+
𝒙 (𝒛)
𝑯𝒚 = ……………………………………..…………….…… (28b)
−𝒊𝝎𝝁 𝝏𝒛
𝟏 𝝏𝑬𝒙+ (𝒛)
𝑯𝒛 = = 𝟎 ……………………………….………………….. (28c)
−𝒊𝝎𝝁 𝝏𝒚
Use of equation (26) in equation (28b) gives,
𝒌
𝑯𝒚 (𝒛) = 𝑬+
𝒙𝟎 𝒆
−𝒊𝒌𝒛
= 𝑯+
𝒚𝟎 𝒆
−𝒊𝒌𝒛
…………………...……………….… (29)
𝝎𝝁
Where 𝑯+
𝒚𝟎 is the amplitude of Hy(z) and is given by,
𝒌
𝑯+
𝒚𝟎 = 𝑬+
𝒙𝟎 …………………………………………..………………... (30)
𝝎𝝁
For a wave traveling from the source toward the load on a transmission line, the
amplitudes of its voltage and current phasors, 𝑽+ 𝟎 and 𝑰𝟎
+
,are related by the
characteristic impedance of the line, Z0, A similar connection exists between the
electric and magnetic fields of an electromagnetic wave. The intrinsic impedance
of a lossless medium is defined as,
𝝎𝝁 𝝎𝝁 𝝁
𝜼= = =√ (𝜴) ………………….…………….…………….. (31)
𝒌 𝝎√𝝁𝝐 𝝐
In view of equation (31), the electric and magnetic fields of a +z-propagation plane
wave with E-field along ax are,
+ −𝒊𝒌𝒛
𝑬(𝒛) = 𝒂𝒙 𝑬+
𝒙 (𝒛) = 𝒂𝒙 𝑬𝒙𝟎 𝒆 ……………………………………….. (32a)
+
𝑬+
𝒙 (𝒛) 𝑬𝒙𝟎
𝑯(𝒛) = 𝒂𝒚 = 𝒂𝒚 𝒆−𝒊𝒌𝒛 …………………………………...…... (32b)
𝜼 𝜼
The electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular to each other, and both are
perpendicular to the direction of wave travel (Figure 10.1). This wave is said to be
transverse electromagnetic (TEM). Other examples of TEM waves include waves
travelling on coaxial transmission lines (E is along r, H is along φ, and the
direction of the travel is along z) and spherical waves radiated by antennas.
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Electromagnetic Theory for M.Sc Course – CH10 College of Education – Physics Department
E
K z
y H
Figure (10.1): A transverse electromagnetic (TEM) wave propagating in the direction k=z.
For all TEM waves, k is parallel to 𝑬 × 𝑯.
In the general case, 𝑬+ +
𝒙𝟎 is a complex quantity with magnitude |𝑬𝒙𝟎 | and phase
angle φ+. That is,
+
𝑬+ +
𝒙𝟎 = |𝑬𝒙𝟎 |𝒆
𝒊𝝓
………………………………………...................……. (33)
The instantaneous electric and magnetic fields therefore are,
𝑬(𝒛, 𝒕) = 𝑹𝒆[𝑬(𝒛)𝒆𝒊𝝎𝒕 ]
= 𝒂𝒙 |𝑬+ +
𝒙𝟎 |𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝝎𝒕 − 𝒌𝒛 + 𝝓 ) (𝑽/𝒎) ………………….…… (34a)
And
𝑯(𝒛, 𝒕) = 𝑹𝒆[𝑯(𝒛)𝒆𝒊𝝎𝒕 ]
+
|𝑬𝒙𝟎 |
= 𝒂𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝝎𝒕 − 𝒌𝒛 + 𝝓+ ) (𝑨/𝒎) ……………………..… (34b)
𝜼
Because E(z,t) and H(z,t) exhibits the same functional dependence on z and t, they
are said to be in-phase; when the amplitude of one of them reaches a maximum,
the amplitude of the other does so too. The fact that E and H are in phase is
characteristic of waves propagation in lossless media. From the material on wave
motion, the phase velocity of the wave is,
𝝎 𝝎 𝟏
𝒖𝒑 = = = (𝒎/𝒔) ………………………………………..… (35)
𝒌 𝝎√𝝁𝝐 √𝝁𝝐
And its wavelength is,
𝟐𝝅 𝒖𝒑
𝝀= = (𝒎) …………………………………………….……..….. (36)
𝒌 𝒇
In vacuum, ϵ=ϵ0 and μ=μ0 , and the phase velocity up and the intrinsic impedance
η given by equation (31) are,
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Electromagnetic Theory for M.Sc Course – CH10 College of Education – Physics Department
𝟏
𝒖𝒑 = 𝒄 = = 𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎𝟖 (𝒎/𝒔) ………………….………….……. (37)
√𝝁𝟎 𝝐𝟎
𝝁
𝜼 = 𝜼𝟎 = √ 𝟎 = 𝟑𝟕𝟕 (𝜴) ≈ 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝝅 (𝜴) ……………...………….…… (38)
𝝐 𝟎
Where c is the velocity of light and η0 is called the intrinsic impedance of free
space.
