PLANE WAVES IN VARIOUS MEDIA

Will discuss the effect of propagation of EM wave in four media :

Free space ; Lossy dielectric ; Lossless dielectric (perfect
dielectric) and Conducting media.
Also will be discussed the phenomena of reflections at interface between
different media.
Ex : EM wave is radio wave, TV signal, radar radiation and optical wave in
optical fiber.

Three basics characteristics of EM wave :

- travel at high velocity
- travel following EM wave characteristics
- travel outward from the source

These propagation phenomena for a type traveling wave called

plane wave can be explained or derived by Maxwell’s equations.
 ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS FOR
PLANE WAVE

From Maxwell’s equations :

∂B ∂H
∇ E - - 
∂t ∂t
∂D ∂E
∇ H J  J  
∂t ∂t
∇  D  v
∇  B 0
 Assume the medium is free of charge :  v 0, J 0
∂H
∇ E -  (1)
∂t
∂E
∇ H  ( 2)
∂t
∇  D 0 (3)
∇  B 0 ( 4)
From vector identity and taking
the curl of (1)and substituting
 ∂H 
(1) and (2) ∇  -   -∇ 2 E
 ∂t 
∇ (∇ E ) ∇(∇  E ) -∇ 2 E
∂
→ ∇ 2 E  (∇ H )
where ∇(∇  E ) 0 ∂t

∴ ∇ E 
2 ∂2E
∂t 2
ie Helmholtz ' s equation for electric field
 Similarly in the same way, from
∂2E vector identity and taking the
∇ E 
2
Vm 3

∂t 2 curl of (2)and substituting (1)

and (2)
In Cartesian coordinates :
∂2H 3
∇ H  
2
Am
2 E ∂ 2 E ∂ 2 E ∂2E ∂t 2
2
 2  2  2
x ∂y ∂z ∂t
Assume that :
(i) Electric field only has x component
(ii) Propagate in the z direction

∂ 2 Ex ∂ 2 Ex
2

∂z ∂t 2
 ∂ 2 Ex ∂ 2 Ex
2

∂z ∂t 2

The solution for this equation :

E x E x cos(t -  z )  E x- cos(t   z )
Incidence wave propagate Reflected wave propagate
in +z direction in -z direction

To find H field : ∂H
∇ E -
∂t
∂E x ∂E x
∇ E  yˆ - zˆ
∂z ∂y
 E x sin(t -  z ) -  E x- sin(t   z )yˆ
On the right side ∂H  ∂H x ∂H y ∂H z 
equation : - -  xˆ  yˆ  zˆ 
∂t  ∂t ∂t ∂t 

Equating components on both side = y component

∂H y
-
∂t

  E x sin(t -  z ) -  E x- sin(t   z ) 
 E x  E x-
- H y ∫ sin(t -  z )dt -  sin(t   z ) dt
 
   -
- E x cos(t -  z )  E x cos(t   z )
 
  
Hy  E x cos(t -  z ) - E x - cos(t   z )
 
H y cos(t -  z ) - H y- cos(t   z )
 Hence :

E x E x cos(t -  z )  E x- cos(t   z )
H y H y cos(t -  z ) - H y- cos(t   z )

These equations of EM wave are called PLANE WAVE.

Main characteristics of EM wave :

(i) Electric field and magnetic field are always perpendicular.
(ii) NO electric or magnetic fields component exists in the
direction of propagation.
(iii) E H will provide information on the direction of
propagation.
 PLANE WAVE IN LOSSY DIELECTRICS –
IMPERFECT DIELECTRICS
 0 ;   0  r ;   0 r
Assume a media is charged free , ρv =0
∂D
∇ H  J    j E (1)
∂t
∂B
∇ E - - jH (2)
∂t

Taking the curl of (2) :

∇ ∇ E - j ∇ H 
 ∇ ∇ A ∇∇  A -∇2 A
From vector ∂D
identity : ∇ H  J    j E (1)
∂t
∂B
∇ E - - jH (2)
∂t
∇∇  E -∇2 E - j   j E ∇ ∇ E - j ∇ H 
∇ 2 E - j   j E 0
∇ 2 E -  2 E 0 Equating (4) and (5) for Re
and Im parts :
Where :
  j   j 
2  2 -  2 - 2  (Re) (6)
(4)
-   j
2 2  (Im) (7)

 propagation constant

Define :
   j
 2  2 -  2  2 j (5)
Magnitude for (5) ;
Add (10) and (6) :
   
2 2 2
(8)
Hence :
Magnitude for (4) ; 2 2   2   2 -  2 
  -      
2
2 2 2
 2
 2  1  2 2 -  2 

  2   2 (9)
 2   2 
Equate (8) and (9) :  
2
 1  2 2 - 1
2   
 2   2   2   2 (10)
  2 
   1  2 2 - 1 Np / m (11)
 2 -  2 - 2  (Re) (6) 2   
 is known as attenuation constant as a
measure of the wave is attenuated while
traveling in a medium.
Substract (10) and (6) :

2  2   2   2   2 

  2 
   1  2 2  1 rad / m (12)
2    

 is phase constant

If the electric field propagate in +z direction and has component x,

the equation of the wave is given by :

E ( z , t )  E0 e -z
cost -  z xˆ (13)

And the magnetic field :

H ( z , t ) H 0 e -z cost -  z -  yˆ (14)

 E0 E ( z , t ) E0 e -z cost -  z xˆ (14)
where ; H0  (15)
 H ( z , t ) H 0 e -z cost - z -  yˆ (15)

Intrinsic impedance :
j j
  ∠  e  , () (16)
  j

where ;  / 
  , tan 2  , 0 ≤  ≤ 450
     2 1/ 4  (17)
1    
    

Conclusions that can be made for the wave propagating in lossy

dielectrics material :
-z
(i) E and H fields amplitude will be attenuated by e
(ii) E leading H by 
  / 
Wave velocity ;   , tan 2  , 0 ≤  ≤ 450 (17)
    
2 1/ 4

 1    
u  /  ;  2 /      

Loss tangent ; From (17) and (18)

J  2
E 
  tan  (18)
Jd jE 

Loss tangent values will determine types of media :

tan θ small (σ / ωε < 0.1) – good dielectric – low loss
tan θ large (σ /ωε > 10 ) - good conductor – high loss

Another factor that determined the characteristic of the media is operating

frequency. A medium can be regarded as a good conductor at low
frequency might be a good dielectric at higher frequency.
E ( z , t ) E0 e -z cost -  z xˆ
E0
H0 

(14)
E0 e -z e jt - z xˆ
H ( z , t ) H 0 e -z cost -  z -  yˆ
(15)
E0 jt -  z - 
 e -z e yˆ


Graphical representation of E field in lossy dielectric

E0 x E ( z , t ) E0 e -z cost -  z xˆ

e  z

y
PLANE WAVE IN LOSSLESS (PERFECT) DIELECTRICS

Characteristics:  0,   0 r ,   0  r (19)

  2 
Substitute in (11) and (12) :    1  - 1 Np / m (11)
2  
2 2


 
 0,    (20)  

 1 
2
 1 rad / m (12)
2   2 2 

 1 2 j
u  ,  (21) 
j
 ∠  e  , ()
     j

 o
  0 (22)


The zero angle means that E and H fields are in phase at each
fixed location.
 PLANE WAVE IN FREE SPACE
Free space is nothing more than the perfect dielectric media :

Characteristics:  0,   0 ,   0 (23)  0,    (20)

Substitute in (20) and (21) :
 1 2
u  ,  (21)
  
 0 ,   0 0  / c (24)

 1 2   0o (22)
u  c ,   (25)

  0 0 
where
u c 3 108 m / s   0 4 10  7 H / m
1
0   0 8.854 10  12  10  9 F / m
  0  120  (26) 36
0
The field equations for E and H obtained :

E E0 cos(t - z ) xˆ (27) E ( z , t ) E0 e -z cost -  z xˆ (14)

H ( z , t ) H 0 e -z cost -  z -  yˆ (15)

E0
H  cos(t - z ) yˆ (28)
0

E and H fields and the direction of propagation :

x Generally :
kˆ  zˆ
Eˆ Hˆ kˆ
E x
+
kos(-z)

(at t = 0)
Hy+ kos(-z)
y
 PLANE WAVE IN CONDUCTORS

In conductors :    or →∞

With the characteristics :  ~  ∞,   0 ,   0  r (29)

Substitute in (11 and (12) :   2 

   1  - 1 Np / m (11)
 2  
2 2

    f (30)
2   2 
   1  2 2  1 rad / m (12)
 2   
  45o E leads H by 450 (31)
 j j
  ∠  e  , ()
  j
The field equations for E and H obtained :

E E0e-z cos(t - z ) xˆ (32)

E0
H  e-z cos(t - z - 45o ) yˆ (33)
0
 -z
It is seen that in conductors E and H waves are attenuated by e
From the diagram  is referred to as the skin depth. It refers to the
amplitude of the wave propagate to a conducting media is reduced to
e-1 or 37% from its initial value.

In a distance : E e - E e -1 It can be seen that at higher

0 0
frequencies  is decreasing.
∴  1 /  
1
f (34)

E0
0.368E0
z


 o
Ex. : A lossy dielectric has an intrinsic impedance of 200∠30  at the
particular frequency. If at that particular frequency a plane wave that propagate
in a medium has a magnetic field given by :
H 10e -x cos(t - x/2) yˆ A / m. Find E and  .

Solution : From intrinsic impedance, the magnitude

Eˆ Hˆ kˆ of E field :
E0
→ Eˆ yˆ  xˆ  200∠30o

∴ E - zˆ
H0
→ E0 2000∠30o

It is seen that E field leads H field :

 300  / 6

Hence : E -2000e -x cos(t - x / 2   / 6) zˆ (V / m)

 E -2000e -x cos(t - x / 2   / 6) zˆ (V / m)

To find  :
1/ 2



 1    2 
-1 
 
1  
 
 
2
 1
 
 tan 2 tan 600  3


∴ 
1/ 2
  2 -1  1
  ; and we know  1 / 2
  2  1 3

→  0.2887 Np / m
3
Hence:

E -2000e -0.2887 x cos(t - x / 2   / 6) zˆ (V / m)