Plane Waves

Introduction
● Propagation of EM fields in a transmission line is
in the form of waves
– V and I waves (distributed parameter model)
– E and H waves (EM field analysis)
● TEM mode of propagation
– E and H fields are perpendicular to each other
– E and H fields are perpendicular to direction of
propagation
● Similar to uniform plane waves
 Uniform Plane Wave
● Uniform plane waves are wave distributions in
which there is only variation of the fields in one
direction.
● We can use maxwell's curl equations to derive the
fields
∂H
∇×E=−
∂t
∂E
∇× H =
∂t
 Uniform Plane Wave
● Expanding the terms for the curl equations :

 ∂y
−
∂z  
∂ Ez ∂ E y
ax
∂z
−
∂x 
∂ Ex ∂ E z
ay 
∂x
−

∂Ey ∂Ex
a =−
∂y z

∂H
∂t

∂Hz ∂H y
∂y
−
∂z
ax
 
∂Hx ∂H z
∂z
−
∂x
ay
 
∂H y ∂Hx
∂x
−
∂y
az=

∂E
∂t 
● Let us assume that the uniform plane wave only
varies with z.
∂ =0 ∂ =0
– Therefore ∂x and ∂y
 Uniform Plane Wave
● The previous equations can be simplified to:

 0−
∂Ey
∂z  
ax
∂Ex
∂z 
−0 ay  0−0  az =−

∂H
∂t

0−
∂H y
∂z  
ax
∂H x
∂z 
−0 ay  0−0  az =

∂E
∂t

● We now have
−∂ E y
∂z
ax
∂Ex
∂z y
a 0 az =−

∂Hx
a 
∂H y
a 
∂t x ∂ t y ∂ t z
∂Hz
a

−∂ H y
∂z
ax
∂H x
∂z
ay0 az =
∂Ex
∂t
ax 
∂ Ey
∂t
ay
∂ Ez
∂t
az

 Uniform Plane Wave
● Separating the equations in terms of their
components:
−∂ E y ∂H x −∂ H y ∂ Ex
=− =
∂z ∂t ∂z ∂t
∂ Ex ∂H y ∂Hx ∂Ey
=− =
∂z ∂t ∂z ∂t
∂Hz ∂Ez
0=− 0=
∂t ∂t
– The equations for the z components of both curl
equations show us that time varying parts of Hz and Ez
are zero
● There are no time varying fields in the direction of
propagation (z-direction)
 Uniform Plane Wave
● Electric and magnetic fields are transverse
(perpendicular) to the direction of propagation
– Hence uniform plane waves are also said to have
Transverse Electromagnetic (TEM) propagation
● The remaining equations relate electric and
magnetic fields to each other
−∂ E y ∂H x −∂ H y ∂ Ex
=− =
∂z ∂t ∂z ∂t
∂Hx ∂Ey ∂ Ex ∂H y
= =−
∂z ∂t ∂z ∂t
 Uniform Plane Wave
● If we assume that the electric field only has an x
component, we are left with:
−∂ H y ∂ Ex ∂ Ex ∂H y
= =−
∂z ∂t ∂z ∂t

● Differentiating the first equation wrt t and the

second equation wrt z
−∂2 H y ∂2 E x ∂2 E x ∂2 H y
= =−
∂t∂z ∂ t2 ∂ z2 ∂t∂z

● Combining he two equations

2 2
∂ Ex ∂ Ex
=
∂ z2 ∂t 2
 Uniform Plane Wave
● This is Helmholtz equation or the wave equation
– Solution has the property of a wave/function traveling
in the z direction
1
– The velocity of the traveling wave is: v=
 
● The general form of the solution of the wave
equation is a function that is traveling along the
direction of propagation and varying with time
E x  z , t = f 1
   
z
t−  f 2 t
v
z
v
 Uniform Plane Wave
● The general solution to the wave equation is
composed of two parts:

E x  z , t = f 1
   
z
t−  f 2 t
v
z
v

– F1 corresponds to a wave traveling in the +z direction

while f2 corresponds to a wave traveling in the -z
direction
 Uniform Plane Wave
● We can verify the solution by getting the
derivatives of the solution
∂ Ex ∂Ex 1
= f 1 '  f 2' = − f 1 '  f 2 ' 
∂t ∂z v
∂2 E x 2
∂ Ex 1
2
= f 1 ' ' f 2 ' ' = 2  f 1' '  f 2 ' ' 
∂t ∂z
2
v

● Comparing the second partial derivatives, we find

that it satisfies the original wave equation
∂2 E x
2
1 Ex
∂
2
= 2 2
∂z v ∂t
 Sinusoidal Uniform Plane Waves
● A special case of uniform plane waves is when
the function is in the form of a sinusoid
– We may use the complex exponential to denote the
time variations of the fields
– All time differentiations may be expressed by adding
jω terms
– All partial derivatives wrt z can be replaced by full
derivatives
−d H y d Ex
= j  E x =− j   H y
dz dz
 Sinusoidal Uniform Plane Waves
● Getting the derivative of the second equation wrt
z, and combining with the first equation
2
−d H y d Ex d Hy
= j  E x =− j 
dz d z2 dz

2
d Ex 2 2
= j   E x
d z2
2
d Ex 2
=−  E x
d z2

– This is the one dimensional helmholtz equation for

the electric field
 Sinusoidal Uniform Plane Waves
● The solution to this equation is a sinusoidal
traveling wave
– Can be expressed as complex exponentials/phasors
+ − jkz - jkz
E x =E x e E x e
where k =   is the wave number
– The wave number may also be expressed as:

k=
v
 Sinusoidal Uniform Plane Waves
● The phase velocity vp is the velocity in which a
constant phase point of the propagating wave
travels
dz d  t−constant  1
v p= =  = =
dt dt k k  
● For free space, we use the permittivity and
permeability of free space
1
v p= =2.998 x 108 m/sec=c
0 0
 Sinusoidal Uniform Plane Waves
● The wavelength λ is defined as the distance
between 2 successive reference points on a wave
for a fixed instant of time

[ t −kz ]−[ t−k  z ]=2 

k =2 
 2 v p v p
=2 = =
k  f
 Sinusoidal Uniform Plane Waves
● E and H are dependent on each other, hence if we
know one of the two fields, we can find the other
● For a known electric field E, applying maxwell's
curl equation to the E solution of the wave
equation: ∇ ×E=− j  H 
∇× E+x e− jkzE -x e jkz  ax=− j  H 
+ − jkz - jkz
∂ E x e E x e 
ay =− j  H 
∂z
+ − jkz - jkz
− jk E x e  jk E x e  ay=− j  H y ay
k
H y= [E +x e− jkz −E -x e jkz ]

 Sinusoidal Uniform Plane Waves
● We define the wave impedance of the plane wave
η as:

● For free space:

=

k
=


ohms

0=
0
0=377 ohms

● Note:
E+x / H +y = /= for forward traveling waves
E -x /H -y=− /=− for reverse traveling waves
 Sinusoidal Uniform Plane Waves
● E and H vectors are orthogonal to each other and
orthogonal to the direction of propagation
● This is the defining characteristic of Transverse
Electromagnetic (TEM) waves
 Sinusoidal Uniform Plane Waves
● Take note that in the previous discussion, it was
assumed that the electric field only has a
component in the x direction
● It is possible for the electric and magnetic fields
to have components in all directions
– We have a 3 dimensional wave equation
– Total E field and total H field are still perpendicular
with each other, and perpendicular to direction of
propagation
 Polarization of Plane Waves
● What happens when we have several plane waves
in the same direction of propagation?
– If medium is linear, we may apply superposition
– Total EM fields are the sum of the individual fields
● The orientation of the individual waves and the
total waves are described by their polarization
– Linear polarization
– Circular polarization
– Elliptic polarization
 Polarization of Plane Waves
● Let us consider 2 waves traveling in the +z
direction
– One field in the x direction and one field in the y
direction

 = E x axE y e ay  e
j − jkz ● Where  is the phase angle between
E
the two fields
● Type of polarization are dependent
1
H =  −E y e axE x ay  e
j − jkz
 on the phase and relative amplitudes
 of the fields
 Linear Polarization
● When both components are in phase, the resultant
field has a linear polarization
– Both fields add up constructively for any z
– Electric field vector will have a fixed orientation
– Orientation of the resultant E field may not
necessarily be along x or y direction only
y   E a E a  e− jkz
E= x x y y
 E x ax E y ay 

E aE =
 E x E y
2 2

Ey  =tan −1
 
Ey
Ex
x
Ex
 Linear Polarization
● It is common to describe polarization as the
orientation of the electric field vector
– Vertical polarization
● Electric field is vertical
– Horizontal polarization
● Electric field is horizontal
● This is the usual definition of the polarization of a
radiating element
– e.g. Antenna
 Circular Polarization
● Another type of polarization occurs when the
amplitudes of the x and y components of the
electric field are equal and phase angle between
±
the fields is =
2
  ax ± j ay  E e− jkz
E=
 ∣= E 2E 2 = 2 E
∣E
 Circular Polarization
● The time domain representation of the sum of
these two waves is given by:
  z , t=ℜ[ a ± j a  E e j  t e− jkz ]
E x y
=E ℜ[cos t−kz  j sin  t−kz  ax ± j [cos t −kz j sin t kz ] ay ]
= E [cos t−kz  ax ∓sin t−kz ]

● The resultant wave is seen as a vector with

constant amplitude that is rotating in a circular
manner
 Circular Polarization
● The instantaneous angle that the electric field
makes with the x axis is given by
=tan
−1
 E y  z ,t 
Ex  z , t  
● From the time domain expression
  z , t=E [cos t −kz  ax∓sin t−kz  ay ]
E

=tan
−1
  
E y  z ,t 
E x  z , t
=tan
−1 ∓sin t−kz 

cos t−kz 
=∓t−kz  rad
 Circular Polarization

● Note that when =
2 , this leads to =− t (for
z = 0)
– Angle that the vector makes with the x axis is
decreasing with time
– Left hand circular polarization
−
● When =
2 , then = t
– Angle that the vector makes with the x axis is
increasing with time
– Right hand circular polarization
 Circular Polarization
● Two linearly polarized ● Resultant field
plane waves with 90
degree phase
difference
 Circular Polarization
● To get the magnetic field associated with this
electric field:
E x = H y E y =− H x
Ex −E y
H y= H x=
 
E E − jkz
H y = e− jkz H x =−± j e
 

 E − jkz
H = ∓ j axay  e

 Elliptic Polarization
● The more general case of polarization occurs
when the amplitudes of the 2 waves are not equal
(Ex ≠ Ey) or the two waves have equal amplitudes
but the phase differenceis other than 0 and ± π/2
● The electric field vector rotates traces the shape
of an ellipse in a z=constant plane
– Elliptic polarization
 Elliptic Polarization
● The instantaneous form of the electric field is:
 [
E  z , t=ℜ  E x axE 2 e  e e
j j t − jkz
]
  z ,t =E cos t−k z a E cos t−k z  a
E x x y y

● If we set z = constant (z = 0),

E x  z , t=E x cos t 
E y z , t=E y cos  t 
– These equations are the parametric equations of an
ellipse
 Elliptic Polarization
● When =±/ 2 , the major and minor axes of
the ellipse are aligned with the x and y axes
●

Ey E

Ex
 Plane Waves in a Lossy Medium
● For a medium with conductivity σ, Maxwell's
curl equations are:
∇ × E=− j  H
∇ ×H =− j   E E
● The resulting wave equation for E becomes
2 2 
∇ E 1− j  E =0

 Plane Waves in Lossy Medium
● For the case of a plane wave in a lossy medium,
the wave number k becomes complex
● We define the complex propagation constant of
the medium, γ, as:


= j = j    1− j


 Plane Waves in Lossy Medium
● For an electric field with an x component only
and uniform (no variations with x and y), the
solution to the wave equation in a lossy medium
becomes:
− jz j z
E x  z =E f e E r e

● Considering only the forward propagating wave:

− z
E f  z , t=e cos t− z 
 Plane Waves in Lossy Medium
● The previous equation represents a wave
travelling in the +z direction with:
 
v p= =2
 
and an added from the ideal case is an
exponential damping term e− z
● α corresponds to the attenuation constant of the
medium
● For a lossless medium, α=0 and β=k and γ=jk=jβ
 Plane Waves in Lossy Medium
● For a wave in a lossy medium, the wave
impedance that relates the electric and magnetic
fields of the propagating plane waves is given by:
j
=


which reduces to the lossless case when

= jk= j   
 Plane Waves in a Good Conductor
● For a wave travelling in a good (but imperfect)
conductor, we define the skin depth as:
1
S = =
 
2

meters

● This is the depth into the conductor in which the

magnitude of the fields decay by an amount of 1/e or
36.8%
● This can be thought of as the depth in which the
current/fields penetrate the conductor if we assume
that the current through the conductor is uniform
 Energy and Power (Poynting's
Theorem)
● For electromagnetic fields in a medium, the time-
average stored electric and magnetic energy
inside a volume are given by:
1 1
W e = ℜ∫V E⋅D dv W m = ℜ∫V H⋅B
  dv
4 4
● For a lossless isotropic,homogenous, linear
media:
 
W e = ∫v E⋅E
 dv W m = ∫v H⋅H
 dv
4 4
 Poynting Vector
● The power flow of a uniform plane wave is given by
its poynting vector

 1  ∗
S= E×H
2
● The average Poynting vector is
2 2
1  1 E E
Sav =ℜ   ×H =
S= ℜE ∗ 1 2
az W /m 2
2 2 
 Energy and Power (Poynting's
Theorem)
● Poynting's Theorem is a complex power balance
equation that states that the power delivered by the
sources (PS) is equal to the sum of the power
transmitted through the surface (PO), the power lost
to heat (Pl) and 2ω times the net reactive energy
stored in the volume

P S =P O P l 2 j W m−W e 
 Plane Wave Normally Incident to
Perfect Conductor
● Recall from transmission line theory that when a
transmission line is not terminated by a matched
load, reflections will occur to satisfy the voltage
requirement at the termination
– Continuity/Boundary condition for the traveling
voltage/current waves and total voltage/current at the
discontinuity
● For uniform plane waves normally incident to
discontinuities, reflections are also produced to
satisfy the boundary conditions
 Plane Wave Normally Incident to
Perfect Conductor
● A uniform plane wave has an electric field
oriented in the x direction
− jkz − jkz
E x =E + e E - e
● At the boundary between the medium and a
perfect conductor located at z=0, E must be equal
to 0
● For this to happen,it is required that:
E- =−E +
E+
E x =E +  e −e =−2j E + sin kz
− jkz jkz H y =2 cos kz

Transmission Line Analogy of Wave
Propagation
● Exact analogy between Transmission line theory
and wave propagation
– Quantities that concern both are in the form of waves
● voltage/current waves, E/H waves
– Any technique that is applicable to one is applicable
to other
● Theory of reflections/transmissions
● Medium “impedance”
– Can be seen by comparing equations for both theories
Transmission Line Analogy of Wave
Propagation
● The equations are:
−jz jz
− jkz
E X  z=E + e E - e
jkz V  z =V + e V - e
1
1
H Y  z = [ E + e −E- e ]
− jkz jkz I z = [V + e −V - e ]
− jz j z

 Z0
k =   =  L C


=

 
Z 0=
L
C
Transmission Line Analogy of Wave
Propagation
● Continuity conditions at a discontinuity are also
satisfied for both cases
– For transmission lines, load impedance defines
continuity at the discontinuity
● Ratio of total voltage and current at the discontinuity/load
must be equal to the load impedance/impedance at the
discontinuity
– For plane waves, the boundary conditions for
electromagnetic fields define continuity
● EX and HY (tangential components) must be continuous at
the boundary
Transmission Line Analogy of Wave
Propagation
● For a transmission line, ratio of incident/reverse
voltage and current is constant
– Characteristic impedance of transmission line
● Ratio of total voltage and current varies along the
transmission line
– Input impedance/ line impedance
● Similar concept may be applied to propagating
plane waves
Transmission Line Analogy of Wave
Propagation
● The ratio between incident/reflected E field and
H field is constant
– Intrinsic impedance of the medium (characteristic
wave impedance)
● The ratio of the total E and H field varies with z
– Concept of wave impedance
● Derivation of expression for wave impedance is
similar to the derivation of input impedance of
transmission line
 Wave Impedance
● Using the equation derived from transmission
line theory, and changing impedances to intrinsic
impedances of the medium we have

Z i=1
[2 cos kl j 1 sin kl
1 cos kl j 2 sin kl ]
– Where η1 is the intrinsic impedance of the first
medium, and η2 is the intrinsic impedance of the
second medium
 Reflection and Transmission
● Similarly, we may be able to define a reflection
and transmission coefficient

E -  2−1
= = E+
E+  21
E2 2 2 E2
T= = 1
E+ 2 1
2
E-
 Reflection and Transmission
Note that when η1 = η2 , the reflection coefficient is
zero
● There is a perfect match between the two media
● 2 possibilities
– Both media are the same (trivial)
– Media are different but have the same intrinsic
impedance
 Reflection and transmission
● Recall that:
=



● Is it possible for 2 different materials to have the
same intrinsic impedance?
● Possible when both permittivity and permeability
are scaled by the same value
2=n 1
1
1 =
 1

2=n 2 2=
  
2
2
=
n 1
n 1
=
1
1
=1
 Reflection and transmission
● Due to the “mismatch” in the intrinsic
impedances of the media, standing waves are also
produced
– Total E field is the sum of incident and reflected
waves, which produce standing waves
● We may also define an SWR

∣E X z ∣max 1∣∣ 2
when 21
S= = 1
∣E X  z ∣min 1−∣∣ 1
when1  2
2
 Oblique Incidence
● Previous discussion concerned waves whose
direction of propagation is perpendicular to the
boundary
– Normal incidence
● More general case is that of oblique incidence
– Wave is not perpendicular to boundary
● Two general cases
– Perpendicular polarization
– Parallel polarization
 Oblique Incidence
● Plane of incidence
– Plane that is perpendicular to the boundary and
contains the vectors that describes the direction of
propagation
Direction of
Propagation
E and H
Vector
E and H
Vector
 Oblique Incidence
● Parallel polarization
– Electric field is parallel to the plane of incidence
– Also called Transverse Magnetic (TM)
● Magnetic field is transverse/perpendicular to plane of
incidence Direction of
Propagation
E
E H H
 Oblique Incidence
● Perpendicular Polarization
– Electric field is perpendicular to plane of incidence
– Also called Transverse Electric (TE) polarization
● E field is perpendicular/transverse to plane of incidence
Direction of
H Propagation
E

E H
 Parallel Polarization
● Before we analyze the reflections and
transmissions, let us define the coordinate v to be
in the direction of propagation of the incident
wave, and w be the direction negative of
propagation of the reflected wave.

θi θr E
E H H

v x
w
z

θt
t
 Parallel Polarization
● In terms of the new coordinates, we can express
the electric field as the sum of the incident and
reflected waves
−jk v k w
E  x , z=E + e E - e
● We can express this in terms of the x,y and z
coordinates using:
v=x sin i z cos i
w=−x sin rz cos r
 Parallel Polarization
● Substituting into the expression for the electric
field, and decomposing in terms of the x and z
components we have:
E x  x , z =E + cos i e− jk  xsin  z cos  −E - cos r e jk −xsin  z cos  
i i r R

− jk  x sini z cos i  jk −xsin r z cos R 

E z  x , z =−E + sin i e −E - sin r e

● The associated magnetic field for the total electric

field is
− jk  xsin i z cos i  jk −xsin r z cos R 
H y  x , z=H + e H - e
 Parallel Polarization
● If we assume that region 2 is a perfect conductor,
we have the following boundary condition
− jkx sini − jkx sinr
E x  x , 0=E + cos i e −E - cos r e =0

● This will only occur if the phase of the incident

and reflected waves are equal at the boundary and
the magnitudes of the waves are equal

i=r
E+=E -
 Parallel Polarization
● At the boundary (z=0), the incident, reflected and
transmitted waves must have the same phase
factors in with respect to the x direction
− jk  xsin i  jk −xsin r  − jk 2 x sint
phase [E + cos i e ]= phase [E - cos r e ]= phase [ Et cos t e ]
−kx sin i=−kx sin r=−k 2 sin t
k sin i=k sin r=k 2 sin t

● For this condition to hold, then

i=r
 Parallel Polarization
● For the transmitted waves, the boundary
conditions for the phase is (snell's law):
k 2 sin  t=k 1 sin i
sin t k 1 v 2 n1
= = =
sin i k 2 v 1 n2
– Where n is the index of refraction

n= r r
 Parallel Polarization
● We may use the impedance concept to find the
amount of reflected and transmitted waves.
● The continuity equations for the total Ex and Hy
with both incident and reflected components are
E x+E x -=E x2
H y+ H y -=H y2
● We can define wave impedances in terms of the
tangential components
E x+ −E x - E x2
Z z1 = = Z L=
H y+ H y- H y2
 Parallel Polarization
● The magnetic field continuity equation can be
rewritten as
E x+ E x- E x2
− =
Z z1 Z z1 Z L
E x2 2 ZL
E x+ E x- E x +E x- = =
− = E x+ Z L Z z1
Z z1 Z z1 ZL
E x- Z L −Z Z1
= =
E x+ Z L Z Z1
 Perpendicular Polarization
● We now consider the oblique incidence of a
perpendicularly polarized wave

θi θr E

v x
w
z

θt
t
 Perpendicular Polarization
● For this case, the E fields are normal to the plane
of incidence and is purely tangential to the
boundary
● The fields on the first medium are:
− jk xsin i z cos i  jk − xsin r z cos r 
E y  x , z=E + e E - e
− jk  xsin i z cos i  jk −xsin r z cos R 
 H x  x , z=−E + cos i e E - cos r e
− jk xsin i z cos i  jk −x sinr z cos R 
 H z  x , z =E+ sin i e E - sin r e
 Perpendicular Polarization
● Applying the boundary conditions for this case,
we also have the following relationships between
the angles of the incident, reflected and trasmitted
waves
k sin i=k sin r=k 2 sin t

i=r

sin t k 1 v 2 n1
= = =
sin i k 2 v 1 n2
 Perpendicular Polarization
● WE can again apply the impedance concept to
this case and reach the same expressions for the
reflection and transmission coefficients

E y - Z L−Z Z1 E y2 2Z L
= = = =
E y+ Z LZ Z1 E y + Z LZ z1
 Phase Velocity and Impedance at
Oblique Incidence
● Let us consider a wave with oblique incidence.
We can represent the single forward travelling
wave as
  x , z = E + e− jkv = E+ e− jk  xsin  z cos  
E i i

● We may be able to take a look at how the phase

changes as me move along either x or z. The
phase constants for these directions are
 x =k sin i
 z=k cos i
 Phase Velocity and Impedance at
Oblique Incidence
● We can write the instantaneous form of the wave
  x , z , t=ℜ [ E+ e j  t− x− z ]
E x z

● If we keep the instantaneous phase constant as we

move in the x direction, we keep t −x x
constant and the velocity required for this is the
phase velocity referred to the x direction
∂x   v
v px = ∣ t − x=constant = = =
∂t x
x k sin i sin i
 Phase Velocity and Impedance at
Oblique Incidence
● Similarly
 v
v pz = =
z cos i
● Notice that the phase velocity referred to either x
or z is greater than the phase velocity of the
wavefront
– For a certain amount of time, the distance traveled by
the wave when referred to either x or z is greater than
the actual distance traveled by the wavefront
 Phase Velocity and Impedance at
Oblique Incidence
● It is also useful to define the wave impedance as
the ratio of E and H fields parallel to the
boundary
– Continuity of tangential components of E and H fields
– This wave impedance is the same for both sides of the
boundary
● The wave impedances are:
E x+ −E x - −E y+ E y -
Z Z TM = = =cos  Z Z TE = = = sec 
H y+ H y - H x+ xy-