Electromagnetic Fields

First Semester 2008/2009

Electronic and Comm. Eng. Dept.

 References
• William H. Hayt, “Engineering
Electromagnetic,” McGraw-Hill, 1989.
• Plonsey & Collin, “ Principles and
Applications of Electromagnetic Fields,”
McGraw-Hill, 1962.
• F.T. Ulaby, “Fundamentals of Applied
Electro-magnetic,” Prentice-Hall, 1997.
Derivation and solution of wave equation
 How Maxwell’s equations used to show wave equation?

Consider the electric and magnetic fields in a region does not include
any sources, which called:

Source-free

Source-free wave equation :

Source-free: the solution region does not include any sources.

Jimp = 0 & ρ = 0
(2.4) Derivation and solution of wave equations in unbounded
media:
2.4.1 Types of media ( according to the values of ε , µ andσ ).

2.4.2 Source-free wave equation.

2.4.2.1 Time form.

a. In free-apace ( ε = ε o , µ = µo and σ = 0 ).

b. Lossless dielectric ( ε = ε o ε r , µ = µoµr and σ = 0 ).

c. Lossy dielectric ( ε =ε o ε r , µ = µoµr and σ ≠ 0 ).

2.4.2.2 Complex form.

2.4.3 Properties of plane wave.

a) In free-apace: ( ε = ε o , µ = µo and σ = 0 )
(2.4.2.1)Time form:

 ∂H
∇ × E = −µo ..... (1)
∂t
 ∂E
∇ × H = εo ..... (2)
 ∂t
∇ .D =0 ..... (3)

∇ .B =0 ..... (4)

& ∇ .J =0 ..... (5)

To derive the wave equation for the electric field:

Take the curl of both sides of eqn. (1) :
 ∂ 
∇ × ∇ × E = −µo (∇ × H )
∂t
Using vector relationship:

 2
 ∂ ∂E
∇ (∇.E ) − ∇ E = − µo (εo )
0 ∂t ∂t
Similarly;

 2 
2
 ∂ E  2
∂ H
∇ E − µoεo 2 = 0 2
∇ H − µoεo 2 = 0
∂t ∂t
Generally:

 2 ∂  2 E 
∇ − µo εo     =0
 ∂t 2  H 
   

Source-free wave equation in free-space

(2nd order P.D.E.)
Solution of source-free wave equation in free space:
2

2
 ∂ E
∇ E − µoεo 2 = 0 ......... ( I) ; the solution of this equation has the form:
∂t
   
E( r , t ) = E x ( r , t )â x + E y ( r , t )â y + E z ( r , t )â z
For simplicity, let us choose the axes such that the electric field coincides with the
x-axis and is function of (z,t) only. I.e.,

E( r , t ) = E x (z, t )â x ; Substituting in eqn.(I) gives,

∂ 2 E x ( z, t ) ∂ 2 E x ( z, t )
2
− µoεo 2
=0
∂z ∂t
Any function f ( z  ct ) is the solution of the above equation because :

f ′′(z ct ) − µ oεoc 2f ′′(z ct ) = 0

1
which is satisfied only when: c= = 3 × 108 m / s
µ oεo
So, the fact that the experimentally determined speed of light is also 3x108 m / s.
So the light is just a form of electromagnetic wave propagation
So, the wave equation is satisfied by f1(z - ct) and also f2 (z + ct) ,
therefore Ex can be written as:

Ex=A1 f1(z - ct) +A2 f2 (z + ct)

b) Lossless dielectric: ( ε = ε o ε r , µ = µoµr and σ = 0 )

 ∂H Similarly;
∇ × E = −µ ..... (1)
∂t 2

 ∂E

2 ∂ H
∇×H = ε ..... (2) ∇ H − µε 2 = 0
∂t ∂t

∇.D = 0 ..... (3) Generally: 
  2 ∂  2 E 
∇.B = 0 ..... (4)  ∇ − µε    = 0
  2
∂t   H
∇.J = 0 ..... (5)   
As the previous case we can prove that,
Taking the curl of both sides of eqn. (1) :
1 c
 ∂  v= = .........wave velocity
∇ × ∇ × E = −µ (∇ × H) µε µrεr
∂t 
  2 1 ∂  2 E 
 2
 ∂ ∂E ∴  ∇ − 2 2   =0
∇ (∇.E ) − ∇ E = −µ (ε ) H
0 ∂t ∂t  v ∂t   
 2
2
 ∂ E
∇ E − µε 2 = 0 Source-free wave equation
∂t
in lossless dielectric
c) Lossy dielectric: (dielectric with finite conductivity)( ε =ε o ε r , µ = µoµr and σ ≠ 0 )

 ∂H
∇ × E = −µ ..... (1) Similarly;
∂t   
2
  ∂E  ∂ H ∂ H
∇ × H = σE + ε ..... (2) ∇ 2H − µσ − µε 2 = 0
 ∂t ∂t ∂t
∇.D = 0 ..... (3) Generally:
 
∇.B = 0 ..... (4)  2  2 E 
  ∇ − µσ ∂ − 1 ∂    = 0
∇.J = 0 ..... (5)  ∂ t v 2
∂ t 2  H
   
Taking the curl of both sides of eqn. (1) :
Source-free wave equation
 ∂ 
∇ × ∇ × E = −µ (∇ × H) in lossy dielectric
∂t
 where,
 2
 ∂  ∂E
∇ (∇.E ) − ∇ E = −µ (σE + ε ) 1
0 ∂t ∂t v= .........wave velocity
 2
 µε
2
 ∂E ∂ E 
∇ E − µσ − µε 2 = 0
∂t ∂t ∂  E 
µσ    ........damping term
∂t  H 