2/26/2020

Electromagnetics:
Electromagnetic Field Theory

Wave Parameters

Lecture Outline

• Fundamental Vs. Intuitive Parameters

• Velocity , Frequency and Wavelength
• Refractive Index
• Wave Number and Wave Vector
• Impedance

Slide 2

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Fundamental Vs. Intuitive Parameters

Fundamental Parameters Intuitive Parameters
These parameters are fundamental to These parameters collect specific
solving Maxwell’s equations, but it is information about a wave from the
difficult to specify how they affect a fundamental parameters.
wave. This is because all of they all
affect all properties of a wave. Refractive index, n
Impedance, h
Wavelength, l
Magnetic Permeability, m Velocity, v
Electric Permittivity, e Wave Number, k
Electrical Conductivity, s Propagation Constant, g
Attenuation Coefficient, a
Phase Constant, b
Slide 3

Wave Velocity,
The scalar wave equation has been known since the 1700’s to be
2   wave disturbance
 
 2      0   angular frequency
v v  wave velocity

If we compare our electromagnetic wave equation to the historical wave

equation, we can derive an expression for wave velocity.
 
 2 E   2 me E  0
 1
2    me  v
  v me
 2      0
v
Slide 4

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Speed of Light in Vacuum,

In a vacuum, 𝜇 = 𝜇 and 𝜀 = 𝜀 and the velocity 𝑣 becomes what is
commonly called the “speed of light 𝑐 .”

1 1
v 
me m 0e 0

1
c0   299, 792, 458 m s
m 0e 0

Slide 5

Refractive Index, n
When not in a vacuum, m = m0mr and e = e0er and the velocity is reduced by a
factor n called the refractive index.

1 1 1 1 1
v    c0 
me m 0 m r e 0e r m 0e 0 mr e r n

This term is the speed This is the factor by which a wave

of light in vacuum. slows down inside a medium.
1 It is called the refractive index.
c0 
m 0e 0
n  mr e r
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Frequency is Constant, Speed & Wavelength Change

Frequency is the most When a wave enters a different

fundamental constant about a material, its speed and thus its
wave. It never changes in linear wavelength change.

l0
materials.
c0
v l
n n
Slide 7

Speed , Frequency & Wavelength

The speed of a wave v, its frequency f, and its wavelength l are related through

v fl c0  f l0
It is now possible to derive an expression for wavelength.

1 1 2
v  fl  l  
me f me  me

Slide 8

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Wavelength & Wave Number

Recall that the wave number 𝑘 was defined as as
1
k   me   m0 m r e 0e r    m0e 0  m re r    n
c0
The angular frequency  is related to wavelength l through the ordinary
frequency f.
c0 c0
  2 f  2  2
l0 nl
Substituting this into the first equation gives
1 c 1 2 2
k   n  2 0   n  k
c0 nl c0 l l Slide 9

Wave Vector
The wave vector 𝑘 conveys two pieces of information: (1) Magnitude conveys the
wavelength l inside the medium, and (2) direction conveys the direction of the wave and is
perpendicular to the wave fronts.


k  k x aˆ x  k y aˆ y  k z aˆ z
Slide 10

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Magnitude Conveys Wavelength

Most fundamentally, the magnitude of the wave vector conveys the wavelength of the wave
inside of the medium.

l1 l2
 2  2
k1  k2 
l1 l2
Slide 11

Magnitude Can Also Convey Refractive Index

When the frequency 𝜔 of a wave is known, the magnitude of the wave vector 𝑘 conveys
refractive index 𝑛.

l1 l2
 2 n1  2 n2 2
k1   k0 n1 k2   k0 n2 k0 
l0 l0 l0
Slide 12

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Material Impedance, h (1 of 3)
Impedance 𝜂 is defined as the relationship between the amplitudes of 𝐸 and 𝐻.
h  E0 H 0
Recall the relationship between 𝐸 and 𝐻.
    jk r  1    jk r
E  r   Pe and H 
k P e
m

An expression for impedance 𝜂 can be derived by collecting all of the amplitude
terms together in the expression for 𝐻.

     
   
1  ˆ Ek
H kk  E0 Pˆ  e  jk r  0 kˆ  Pˆ e jk r
m   m
This term is the amplitude of H
Slide 13

Material Impedance, h (2 of 3)
From the last slide, the amplitude of 𝐻 is
 Ek
 
 
E0 k
H  0 kˆ  Pˆ e  jk r  H0 
m m
Expressions have been obtained for both E0 and H0. It follows that impedance is
E0 E0 m
h  
H 0 E0 k m k
Since 𝑘 = 𝜔   𝜇𝜀, the final expression for impedance 𝜂 is
m m m m
h    h
k  me me e
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Material Impedance, h (3 of 3)
The expressions for the electric and magnetic field components of a wave can
now be modified to be in terms of impedance.

    jk r  kˆ  P  jkr
E  r   Pe and H e
h
where
E m Vacuum Impedance
h 0  m0
H0 e h0 
e0
 376.73011346177 

Slide 15