Lecture 5

Plane Wave Reflection and

Transmission
 Normal Incidence (Review)
Incident wave: x
 i ( z )  xˆ E i (0)e  1z
E ( 1 , 1 ,  1 ) (  2 , 2 ,  2 )
 1 i Ei
H ( z )  yˆ E (0)e  1z
i
 i
1 H i S t
y E z
t S t
Reflected wave: r H
E
 r ( z )  xˆ E r (0)e  1z
E S r r
H
 1 r
H ( z )   yˆ E (0)e  1z
r
1
E r (0) note minus Transmitted wave: E  t ( z )  xˆ E t (0)e  2 z
 i sign!
E (0) E t (0)  t 1 t
T i H ( z )  yˆ E (0)e  2 z
reflection coefficient E (0) 2
transmission coefficient
Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 2
 Oblique Incidence – Parallel (or p) Polarization (Review)

plane of incidence – the plane defined by the interface normal ẑ)

and the direction of incidence
x
( 1 , 1 ) PLANE OF INCIDENCE (  2 ,  2 )
xˆ r yˆ r
xˆ r  xˆ sin  r  zˆ cos r
yˆ r  xˆ cos  r  zˆ sin  r r
E yˆ t  t xˆ
r
H
||
E|| t
||
angle of reflection r t
t H ||
angle of incidence i y z
i angle of transmission
E
yˆ i || xˆ i
xˆ i  xˆ sin i  zˆ cos i i
H xˆ t  xˆ sin t  zˆ cos t
||
yˆ i  xˆ cosi  zˆ sin i yˆ t  xˆ cos t  zˆ sin t
Nikolova 2012 3
p-polarization – E-field is parallel to the plane of incidence
 Oblique Incidence – p Polarization (Review) (2)

Incident wave:
 i  ( xˆ cos i  zˆ sin i ) E i e  1 ( x sin i  z cos i )
E || ||0

E ||0i
 i  yˆ
H e  1 ( x sin i  z cos i )
||
1
Reflected wave: Transmitted wave:
 r  ( xˆ cos  r  zˆ sin  r ) 
E  t  ( xˆ cos t  zˆ sin t ) 
E
|| ||
|| E ||0i e  1 ( x sin r  z cos r ) T|| E ||0i e  2 ( x sin t  z cos t )
 
E||r reflection coefficient E||t transmission coefficient

|| E ||0i T|| E ||0i

 r   yˆ
H e  1 ( x sin r  z cos r )  t  yˆ
H e  2 ( x sin t  z cos t )
|| ||
note minus 1 2
sign!

Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 4

 Oblique Incidence – Perpendicular (or s) Polarization (Review)
E-vector is perpendicular to the plane of incidence (tangential to the
interface) x

xˆ r yˆ r
r
E r
H
  xˆ t
t
E
xˆ r  xˆ sin  r  zˆ cos r 
yˆ r  xˆ cos  r  zˆ sin  r r  t H t
xˆ i  xˆ sin i  zˆ cos i y z
yˆ i  xˆ cosi  zˆ sin i
i yˆ t
xˆ i xˆ t  xˆ sin t  zˆ cos t
Ei yˆ t   xˆ cos t  zˆ sin t

H i yˆ
i

( 1 , 1 ) (  2 ,  2 )
Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 5
 Oblique Incidence – s Polarization (Review) (2)

Incident wave:
E i  yˆ E i e  1 ( x sin i  z cos i )
 0

 i  (  xˆ cos i  zˆ sin i ) E i 0
H  e  1 ( x sin i  z cos i )
1
Reflected wave: Transmitted wave:
 r  yˆ   E i e  1 ( x sin r  z cos r )
E  t  yˆ T E i e  2 ( x sin t  z cos t )
  0 E  0

E r 0 reflection coefficient E t 0 transmission coefficient
 r  ( xˆ cos  r  zˆ sin  r ) 
H  t  (  xˆ cos t  zˆ sin t )
H
 
  E i 0  1 ( x sin r  z cos r ) T E i 0  2 ( x sin t  z cos t )
e  e
1 2

Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 6

 Snell’s Law (Partial Review)
• valid for all polarizations
• follows from the continuity of the tangential field components
and the matching of their phases

 r  i
sin t  1 11 n1
  
sin i  2 2 2 n2

• transmission into very good conductors

If medium 1 is a loss-free dielectric and medium 2 is a very good
conductor (σ2 >> ωε2), show that θt is complex and tends to zero
regardless of the angle of incidence. Derive the expression for the
propagation factor e  2 ( x sin t  z cos t ) in medium 2 when σ2 >> ωε2. 
Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 7
 Reflection and Transmission (Fresnel) Coefficients (Review)

• by definition the reflection coefficient Γ gives the ratio of the

reflected to incident tangential E-field component at the interface
• the ratio of the reflected to incident tangential H-field component at
the interface is −Γ
• by definition the transmission coefficient T gives the ratio of the
transmitted to incident tangential E-field component at the interface

Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 8

 Fresnel Coefficients (Review) – 2
for p-polarization:
2 cos t  1 cos i
|| 
2 cos t  1 cos i
22 cos i cos i
T||  T||  1  || 
2 cos t  1 cos i cos t
for s-polarization:
2 cos i  1 cost
 
2 cos i  1 cost
22 cos i
T 
2 cos i  1 cost T  1   
at normal incidence (θi = θt = 0), the above cases reduce to
2  1 22
 , 
2  1 2  1 T  1 
Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 9
 Oblique Incidence: Surface Impedance

• definition: the ratio of the values (complex in general) of the

tangential E and H field vectors at the interface

 tan  Z s ( H
E  tan  zˆ ) note: in medium 1, these are total
z 0 (incident + reflected) field values

• surface impedances (in the chosen coordinate system) for p and s

polarizations are then obtained as
E ||x E  y
Z s||  Z s 
H ||y H x z0
z0

Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 10

 Oblique Incidence: Surface Impedance – 2

E ||(1)
x 0 total E ||(2) / 
H (2)
x0 ||y 0
2
E ||0i (1 || ) cos i  1 ||   1 
Z s||  i 1 cos i  
 2 c os  t  2 1    sin 2
i

( E||0 /1 )(1|| )  1||  2 

H ||(1)
y 0 total
E (1)y 0 total E (2)y 0 / H (2)x 0

E i 0 (1   ) 1  1    2 2
Z s  i     =
( E 0 /1 )(1  ) cos i cos i  1   cos t 2
 1 
1   sin 2 i
H (1)x 0 total 2 

Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 11

Oblique Incidence: Surface Impedance of a Very Good Conductor
• we have already proven (sl. 7) that if medium 2 is a very good
conductor, regardless of the angle of incidence, cosθt ≈ 1
2
 Z s||  Z s  2  (1 j )
2 2 Zs

• the power-flux density penetrating into medium 2 (along z) is

1   1
S z||,   E||,  
H 
||,  z 0  z
ˆ  Z s | 
H |2
tan z 0
2 2
• this power-flux density is dissipated power per unit area
| J s |2 , J s   zˆ  H
 tan
z 0
 1  tan (0) |2 , W/m 2
p  Re S z||,  Rs | H
2
1 2
Rs  Re2  
 2 2 2 2
Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 12
 Extreme Cases: Full Transmission, Full Reflection

 full transmission occurs when the two media have the same
constitutive parameters (no reflected wave)
1  2 and t   r  i   0, T  1
• there is no reflected wave
• the field in medium 1 is simply the traveling incident wave
• the field in medium 2 is the same traveling wave
Can total transmission happen if the 2 media are different? Explain.
 full reflection occurs when
• medium 2 is a PEC (short circuit)
• medium 2 is a PMC (open circuit)
• total internal reflection at a dielectric interface
• the reflected wave is as strong as the incident one
• there is no field in medium 2
Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 13
 Full Reflection
• full reflection at PEC
the conducting medium “shorts out” medium 1 by forcing a
zero tangential E-field component (voltage between any 2
points on interface is 0); tangential H-field is doubled
Prove that Γ = −1 and T = 0 if σ2 → ∞.

• full reflection at PMC

PMC acts as an open circuit forcing a zero tangential H-field
component and doubling the tangential E-field
Prove that Γ = 1 and T = 2 if µꞌꞌ → ∞.
• total field in medium 1 when Γ = ±1 for normal incidence
E 
 ( z )  xˆ E i (0) e  1z  e  1z
1 
H 
 ( z )  yˆ H i (0) e  1z  e  1z
1 
Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 14
 Surface Current Density at the Surface of PEC
  1, T  0  reflected: H r (0)  H i (0)
transmitted: H t (0)  0
H 1 (0)  H i (0)  H r (0)  2 H i (0)
 
H 2 (0)  H t (0)  0

• according to the boundary conditions: zˆ  ( H  H  )  J , A/m

2 1 s
zˆ    yˆ H 1 (0)   J s , A/m
 J s  xˆ 2 H tan
i
(0)  xˆ 2 E tan
i
(0) / 1
• the incident wave is “shorted” and thus induces current at the
conductor’s surface
• this current is the source of the reflected wave
• power loss in a very good conductor [see sl. 12]
 tan (0) |2  Rs | H
p  0.5 Rs | H  itan (0) |2 , W/m 2

i
Nikolova 2012 2 H tan (0) 15
 Full Reflection at PEC – Animations
• E reverses phase at a perfectly conducting wall

  1
E (0)  0

• H does not reverse phase at a perfectly conducting wall

  1 or  H  1
H (0)  2 H i (0)

Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 16

 Standing Waves Due to Reflection from PEC (Γ = −1)
• assume medium 1 is loss-free (γ1 = jk1)
E1 ( z )  xˆ E i (0)(e  jk1z  e  jk1 z )  xˆ E i (0)  2 j sin( k1 z ) 
E i
(0)

H1 ( z )  yH (0)(e
ˆ i  jk1 z
e  jk1 z
)y ˆ  2cos(k1z )
1
• field forms a standing wave with clearly defined nulls and maxima
along z (at PEC wall, z = 0, E has a null, H has a maximum)
• where E has a null, H has a maximum, and vice versa

• for any z, E and H are in phase quadrature

• Poynting’s vector is purely imaginary – no power transferred along z
1 j 2 | 
E i
(0) |2
S 1  E H     zˆ sin( k1 z )  cos( k1 z )
2
1 1
1 
0.5sin(2 k1z )

Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 17

 Sinusoidal Standing Wave – Animation
superposition of two sine waves traveling in opposite directions

position
Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 18
 Standing Wave – Animation
standing H-field plane wave has a maximum at the shorted end (the
E-field wave looks exactly the same only shifted by a quarter
wavelength)

 /2

Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 19

 Envelopes of Traveling, Standing, and Mixed Waves
the envelope of a standing wave has nulls and maxima spaced at λ/4
[the distance between any two neighboring nulls (or maxima) is λ/2]
the envelope of a traveling wave is a constant line with no minima
and maxima
between the extremes of a traveling and a standing wave lie infinite
combinations of incident and reflected waves – mixed waves
mixed waves can be viewed as a superposition of a traveling wave
and a standing wave where Γ can be any complex number 0 |  | 1

http://wn.com/standing_wave_envelope
Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 20
 Locations of the Envelope Minima/Maxima
• maxima occur where the standing wave and the traveling wave
interfere constructively
• minima occur where the standing wave and the traveling wave
interfere destructively
• maxima are (1 + |Γ|) times the magnitude of the incident wave
• minima are (1 − |Γ|) times the magnitude of the incident wave
E ( z )  E i (0)e  jk1z  E i (0)e  jk1z ,  |  | e j
| E ( z ) | E ( z ) E  ( z ) | E i (0) | 1 |  |2 2 |  | cos(2k1 z    )
envelope

| E ( z ) |max | E i (0) | 1 |  | for cos(2k1 z    )  1

| E ( z ) |min | E i (0) | 1 |  | for cos(2k1 z    )  1

Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 21

 Locations of the Envelope Minima/Maxima – 2
• consider l = −z (the distance from
the interface back into medium 1)
• the positions of the E-wave minima
lmin,n (n = 0,1,2,…) are found from
cos(2k1lmin,n    )  1

Prove that the minima positions are given by

lmin,n   (2n  1)
  , n  0,1, where       
1 4 4
List the first 3 minima positions (n = 0,1,2) if medium 2 is
PEC and the wavelength is 10 cm.
Hint: Note that lmin,n ≥ 0 must hold. To get the correct sign consider that
cos(2k1l    )  cos(2k1l    )
Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 22
 Standing Wave Ratio
the SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) is the ratio of the maxima and the
minima of the total wave in medium 1
| E ( z ) |max 1 |  | SWR  1
SWR  SWR  1 |  |
| E ( z ) |min 1 |  | SWR  1

• SWR has a minimum value of 1 in the case of a traveling wave

• SWR is infinity in the case of a standing wave
• in microwave engineering, a SWR ≤ 2 is considered satisfactory
for the purposes of matching and good power transfer

What is |Γ| if SWR = 2? What is the ratio of reflected to incident

power density Sr/Si in this case? What is the ratio of transmitted to
incident power density St/Si?
Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 23
 Standing Wave Ratio (2)

Emax

Emin

  0.5
Emax
SWR  3
Emin 


Nikolova 2012 LECTURE 05: PLANE WAVE REFLECTION AND TRANSMISSION 24

 Summary
• the reflection and transmission coefficients relate the respective
tangential E-field components at the interface
• at normal incidence full reflection, |Γ| = 1, is due to PEC or PMC
terminations
• losses per unit area on very good conductors are calculated using
1  1 
2 2
p  Rs | J s | , W/m where Rs   and | J s || H
 tan |
2  2
• the SWR gives the ratio of the wave envelope maximum and
minimum (SWR ≥ 1)
• the distance between two neighbouring minima (or maxima) is λ/2
• at a PEC wall (short), the E-field has a null while the H-field has a
maximum, which is double the value of the incident field magnitude
• at a PMC wall (open), the situation is reversed