Modern Optics

R. B. Guenther

Dr. R. Aalipour
Lecture 1: Electromagnetic theory
• Maxwell equations
• Wave equation
• Interdependence of E and B
• Energy density and flow
• Intensity
• Polarizations
• Jones vector
• Propagation in mediums
Maxwell equations

Constitutive relations
Gauss law: electric field

Gauss law: magnetic field

Faraday law

Ampere law

Material equations
Maxwell equations

Free space

Maxwell equations for free space

Wave equation

Exercise:
Write wave equation for magnetic field
Wave equation

Wave velocity

Free space

Index of refraction For non-magnetic materials

Wave equation

Transverse waves

By considering other components

Interdependence of E and B
Interdependence of E and B

𝐵
For the magnitude of the two fields

The ratio of the field magnitudes Impedance of the medium

In a vacuum
Energy density

In a vacuum

Energy flow
Intensity of light wave

where
Intensity of light wave

The energy crossing a unit area A in time Δt is contained in a volume A(v Δt).
For getting the magnitude of the energy, multiply this volume with energy density <U>.
The expected energy flow:
Momentum

A momentum density associated with electromagnetic wave

The pressure on a surface of area A

At the earth’s surface and normal to it

Flux density:
so, Pressure of light:
Δp is momentum change, which for totally light absorbing medium Δp = p,
Expressing p=gV

Finally
Polarization of light

The direction of the displacement of the transverse wave is called the direction of polarization and the plane
containing the direction of polarization and propagation vector is called the plane of polarization.

We use electric vector, 𝐸 as to label the direction of the electromagnetic wave’s polarization, not 𝐵 .
??
We can write the ratio of the forces on the moving electric charge in an electromagnetic field:

If we assume the electric charge is travelling in air with the velocity of sound so
Then the force on the charge due to the electric field of the light wave would be times larger than the
force due to magnetic field.
Polarization of light

Polarization ellipse
The plane wave is given by
When tis unit vectors are added together,
the results will be a set of figures called
Lissajous’s figures

We divide each component by its maximum value

Polarization of light

These two equations are squared and added, yielding the equation for Lissajous’s figure

in which
This is the equation of an ellipse, which called polarization ellipse.
Polarization of light

The orientation of the ellipse with respect to the x axis is

The component of the electric field along the major axis of the ellipse is

and along the minor axis of the ellipse is

Polarization of light

Ellipticity the amount of deviation of the ellipse from a circle

Linear polarization
When

The ellipse collapses into a straight line with slop

Polarization of light

The θ parameter of the ellipse is the slope of the straight line

and from that

Also for 𝜑 parameter

For the electric field vector

Polarization of light

Circular polarization
When and

The ellipse becomes a circle. And for the electric field

If the electric vector moves around the ellipse in a clockwise direction, then

and the polarization is right-handed.

Polarization of light

If the electric vector moves around the ellipse in a

counterclockwise direction, then

and the polarization is left-handed.

Stokes parameters

The stokes parameters of a light wave are the measurable quantities of polarization.

𝑠0 :Total intensity.
𝑠1 : Difference between intensities transmitted by the linear polarizers respectively oriented parallel to 𝑥 and 𝑦 axis.
𝑠2 : Difference between intensities transmitted by the linear polarizers respectively oriented at angles 45𝑜 and 135𝑜 .
𝑠3 : Difference between intensities transmitted by the right-circular polarizer and left-circular polarizer.

Stokes parameters in terms of phase difference and amplitude components of electric field:
Stokes parameters

From polarization ellipse:

For averages

Added to both sides

Stokes parameters

Degree of polarization:

Stokes parameters in terms of polarization ellipse:

Poincare’s sphere
Jones & Stokes vectors

Jones vectors

Normalized form

Stokes vectors
Exercise:
 1 −𝑖 𝑖𝑎 2𝑏 𝑖 2
(𝑎 𝑏) =− + = 1, 𝑎 = ,𝑏 = ,
5 2 5 5 5 5
1 −𝑖 −𝑖 1 −𝑖 1 𝐸0𝑦 𝜋
= = 𝜋 , = 2, 𝛿 =
5 2 5 2𝑖 5 2𝑒 𝑖 2 𝐸0𝑥 2
1
(𝑖 2 )
5
Propagation in conducting medium

Maxwell equations:

Material constructive relations:

Maxwell equations in mediums with dissipation:

Propagation in conducting medium

A similar equation for magnetic field:

Propagation in conducting medium

𝜕
𝑖𝜔
𝜕𝑡

Complex wave number:

From the identity:

Propagation in conducting medium

Complex refractive index:

Complex wave number:

is the extinction coefficient.

If we assume that 𝑘 is parallel to 𝑧 axis:

exponential decay of a light wave propagating in a absorbing medium

Propagation in conducting medium

On the other hand:

With calculation:
Example:

For copper:

𝜎 = 5.96 × 107 𝑆/𝑚

𝑛 = 0.62 at 𝜆 = 589.3𝑛𝑚

2
𝜇𝜎 4𝜋 × 10−7 × 5.96 × 107 −14
𝑆𝑒𝑐
= = 2.3 × 10
𝜔 2𝜋 × 3 × 108 / 589.3 × 10−9 𝑚
2
𝑆𝑒𝑐
𝜇𝜖 = 𝜇0 𝜖0 𝑛2 = 4𝜋 × 10−7 × 8.85 × 10−12 × 0.62 2
= 4.3 × 10−18
𝑚
Propagation in conducting medium

By comparing the relative magnitude of these two terms:

So by approximation:

1
The depth at which an electromagnetic wave is attenuated to 𝑒 of its original energy when
propagating into a conductor:

Skin depth