UNIT-III ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES IN A HOMOGENOUS MEDIUM

Constitutive relations, Solution for free-space conditions, Uniform plane-wave propagation, Uniform
plane waves, Relation between E and H in a uniform plane wave, Wave equation for a conducting
medium, Wave propagation in lossless medium, Wave propagation in a conducting medium.
Conductors and dielectrics, Wave propagation in good dielectric, Wave propagation in good conductor,
Depth of penetration, Polarization of uniform plane wave.
3.1 Constitutive relations:
The relations that concerns the characteristic of the medium in which the fields exist.

The medium is assumed to be homogeneous, isotropic and source free.

a) Homogeneous: Medium for which quantities ε, μ and σ are constant throughout the medium.
b) Isotropic: Medium is isotropic if ε is a scalar constant, so that D and E have everywhere the
same direction.
c) Source-free: Region in which there are no impressed voltage (or) current (no generator).
3.2 Wave equation for a conducting medium: (Electromagnetic wave equation) (Wave
equation) (General wave equation)
EM equation can be obtained from Maxwell’s equation. For regions in which the conductivity is not
zero and conduction currents may exist, the more general solution must be obtained.

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3.3 Solution for free-space conditions: (Wave equation for free space)
It is instructive to consider the simple, but important, particular case of electromagnetic phenomena in
free space, or more generally in a perfect dielectric containing no charges and no conduction currents.

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Thus the first condition on either E or H is that it must satisfy the wave equation.
3.4 Uniform plane-wave propagation:

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For uniform plane wave propagating in z direction, E may have components Ex and Ey, but (as will be
seen later) not Ez. Since the wave travels in z direction, E is independent of x and y.

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 H
Z

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3.5 Uniform plane waves:
The wave in which E is independent of x and y and function of z and t only is called uniform plane
wave.
The properties of uniform plane wave are;

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Second and third conclusions will not be part of wave motion and hence first conclusion is correct (Ez
= 0). Therefore a uniform plane wave progressing in the z direction has no component in direction of
propagation. This confirms that E and H will have component only in directions perpendicular (90
degree) to the direction of propagation, i.e., EM waves are transverse in nature.
3.6 Relation between E and H in a uniform plane wave: (Intrinsic impedance) (η)
(Characteristic impedance)

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Further Information:
Case 1: When the medium is free space or a vacuum, the intrinsic impedance is,

Case 2: Dot product

Thus in uniform plane wave, E and H are right angles and perpendicular to each other.
Case 3: Cross product

Thus cross product will gives the direction of propagation.

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3.7 Classification of medium:

σ/ωε 1
3.8 Wave propagation in lossless medium: (Perfect dielectric) (Propagation of plane EM
waves in a lossless medium/perfect dielectric) (σ = 0)

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This is the solution in terms of time varying field, which as two waves traveling in opposite direction.
It is evident that in a lossless, homogenous medium the assumption of sinusoidal time variations
results in a space variation which is also sinusoidal.
If A=B, the travelling waves combine to form simple standing wave which does not progress.
Velocity of propagation (Wave velocity) (Phase velocity)
Assume the wave is traveling in +z direction.

This velocity of some points in the sinusoidal waveform is called phase velocity.

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Phase shift constant
The phase-shift constant is a measure of the phase shift in radians per unit length.

For free space,

Wave impedance:

Wavelength:
Wavelength (λ) is defined as the distance over which the sinusoidal waveform passes through a full
cycle of 2π radians.

Where f is frequency measured in cycle per second (Hz).

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3.9 Wave propagation in a conducting medium: (Lossy medium) (Plane waves in lossy
dielectric)

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Where β is phase shift constant = 2π/λ.
This is solution of plane wave propagating in conducting medium/lossy medium. This equation
implies the wave is traveling in z direction and attenuated by the factor e-αx.

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 4

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3.10 Conductors and dielectrics:

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3.11 Wave propagation in good dielectric: (Low loss dielectric)

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3.12 Wave propagation in good conductor:

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Note:

Conclusion:
1) σ, α, β are very large. It means wave is attenuated greatly as it progress through the conductor
and the phase shift per unit length is also great.
2) The velocity of wave (V) is inversely proportional to β, is very small in good conductor.
3) Characteristic impedance is also very small and has a reactive component. The angle of this
impedance is always 45 degree for good conductor.

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3.13 Depth of penetration: (Skin depth) (δ)

Proof:

The general expression for depth of penetration is

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3.14 Polarization of uniform plane wave:

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Illustration of Left handed circular polarisation:
i) Let ωt = 0, Ex = Ek and Ey = 0
ii) Let ωt = 90 degree, Ex = 0 and Ey = -Ek
iii) Let ωt = 180 degree, Ex = -Ek and Ey = 0

From these three figure, E rotates in clockwise direction. This type of wave is left circularly polarised
wave. Hence the sense/direction of rotation is left handed.
Similar remarks hold for right circularly polarized.

By inspection of the equations, the sense of polarisation of wave is again left handed.
Note: Axial ratio is defined by the ratio of semi-major to semi-minor axes.
Axial ratio = E2/E1 = semi-major/semi-minor
(i) LP: Minor axis = 0, AR=E2/0 = Ꝏ
(ii) CP: E2 = E1, AR = 1
(iii) EP: E2 > E1, 1 < AR < Ꝏ

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3.15 Few important formulae:

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 meter

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 Phase constant

meter

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m

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 m

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