Lecture 16

Waves in Isotropic Media: Dielectrics and Conductors

In this lecture you will learn:

Wave propagation in dielectric media

Waves propagation in conductive media

Review: Plane Waves in Free Space

Faradays Law:

r r
r r
E (r ) = j o H (r )
Amperes Law:

r v
r r
r r
H (r ) = J (r ) + j o E (r )

Complex Wave Equation:

r v

Assume: J (r ) = (r ) = 0

r r
r r
r r
E (r ) = j o H (r ) = 2 o o E (r )
0
r r
r r
r r
. E (r ) 2 E (r ) = 2 o o E (r )
r r
r r
2 E (r ) = 2 o o E (r )

For a plane wave in free space we know the E-field and H-field phasors to be:
r r
r r
E (r ) = n Eo e j k .r

r r
r r
E
H (r ) = k n o e j k . r

k =

o =

o o =

r
k

o
377
o

Waves in a Dielectric Medium Wave Equation

Suppose we have a plane wave of the form,

r r
r r
E (r ) = n Eo e j k .r

traveling in an infinite dielectric medium with permittivity

What is different from wave propagation in free space?

Faradays Law:

r r
r r
E (r ) = j o H (r )
Amperes Law:

r r
r v
r r
H (r ) = J (r ) + j E (r )

Complex Wave Equation:

r v

Assume: J (r ) = (r ) = 0

r r
r r
r r
E (r ) = j o H (r ) = 2 o E (r )
r r0
r r
r r
. E (r ) 2 E (r ) = 2 o E (r )
r r
r r
2 E (r ) = 2 o E (r )

compare with the

complex wave equation
in free space

r r
r r
2 E (r ) = 2 o o E (r )

Waves in a Dielectric Medium Dispersion Relation

Substitute the plane wave solution:
r r
r r
E (r ) = n Eo e j k .r

in the complex wave equation:

r r
r r
2 E (r ) = 2 o E (r )

To get:

r r
r r
2 E (r ) = 2 o E (r )
r r r r
r r
k . k E (r ) = 2 o E (r )

k 2 = 2 o
k = o

compare with k = o o
for waves in free space

Refractive Index:
Define refractive index n of a dielectric medium as: n =

Waves in a Dielectric Medium Velocity

Plane wave:

r r
r r
E (r ) = n Eo e j k .r

Dispersion relation:

k = o

k = o o

k =

n
c

n=

compare with k =
c
free space

for waves in

The velocity of waves in a dielectric medium is reduced from the velocity of waves
in free space by the refractive index
Velocity of waves in free space: c
Velocity of waves in dielectric medium of refractive index n:

c
n

Waves in a Dielectric Medium - Wavelength

Plane wave in a dielectric medium:

r r
r r
E (r ) = n Eo e j k .r

n
Dispersion relation: k =
c

But the magnitude of the wavevector is

2
related to the wavelength by the relation: k =

So for a dielectric medium we get:

2 c
n

compare with =
in free space

2 c

for waves

The wavelength of plane waves in a

dielectric medium is reduced from the
wavelength of plane waves of the
same frequency in free space by the
refractive index

Waves in a Dielectric Medium Magnetic Field

Plane wave:

r r
r r
E (r ) = n Eo e j k .r

Calculate the magnetic field:

r r
H (r ) =

r r
E (r )
r r

) k

Eo e j k . r

Eo e j k . r

r r
H (r ) = k n

r r
H (r ) = k n

r r
r r
E
H (r ) = k n o e j k . r

r r

The wave impedance also

changes

=
=

o o o
=
o
n

Waves in a Conductive Medium Complex Permittivity

Suppose we have a plane wave of the form,

r r
E (r ) = x Eo e j k z

traveling in an infinite medium with conductivity and

permittivity

Faradays Law:

r r
r r
E (r ) = j o H (r )
r v
Amperes Law: Now J (r ) 0
r r
r r
r v
H (r ) = J (r ) + j E (r )
r r
r r
= E (r ) + j E (r )
r r
= j eff ( ) E (r )

eff ( ) = 1 j

Complex Wave Equation:

r r
r r
2 E (r ) = 2 o eff ( ) E (r )

The effect of conductivity has been

absorbed in a complex frequency
dependent effective permittivity

Waves in a Conductive Medium Complex Refractive Index

Plane wave:

r r
E (r ) = x Eo e j k z

Dispersion relation:

k = o eff ( )

k = o o

n ( )
k = eff
c

eff ( )
o

neff ( ) =

eff ( ) complex refractive

o index

compare with k =
c
free space

neff ( ) =

Since the refractive index is complex:

the wavevector k is also complex

1 j
o

= loss tangent

Let: k = k ' j k ' '

Real part

for waves in

Imaginary part

Waves in a Conductive Medium Complex Wavevector

Plane wave:

r r
E (r ) = x Eo e j k z

Complex wavevector: k = k ' j k ' '

What are the implications of a complex wavevector?

Wave decays exponentially with distance as it propagates

r r
E (r ) = x Eo e j k z
r r
E (r ) = x Eo e j k ' z e k '' z

exponential decay

e k '' z

The wavelength is related to the

real part of the wavevector:

k' =

Waves in a Conductive Medium Magnetic Field

Plane wave:

r r
E (r ) = x Eo e j k z

Calculate the magnetic field:

r r
H (r ) =

r r
E (r )

r r
H (r ) = y

r r
H (r ) = y

r r
H (r ) = y

o
k

o
Eo

Eo e j k z

Dont forget that the wavevector

k is complex now

Eo e j k z

eff ( )

The impedance is now also

complex

e j k z

o
eff ( )

eff ( ) =

Note: The E-field and the H-field are no longer in phase since eff( ) is complex

Waves in a Conductive Medium Power Flow

Plane wave:

r r
H (r ) = y

r r
E (r ) = x Eo e j k z

Eo

eff ( )

e j k z

k = k ' j k ' '

Note that:

eff ( )

k ' j k ' '

k '' z

Poynting vector and time average power per

unit area:

r r
r r
1
S (r , t ) = Re S (r )
2
r r r r
1
= Re E (r ) H * (r )
2

Eo2
E2
1
2 k '' z
o

e
z
= Re z
=
2 eff ( ) *
2

k ' 2 k '' z
e

Time average power per unit area decays exponentially with distance because
energy is dissipated in a conductive medium due to I2R (or J.E) type of losses
and this energy dissipated is taken away from the plane wave

Loss Tangent and Dielectric Relaxation Time - I

The complex wavevector is: k =

neff ( )
c

The complex refractive index is: neff ( ) =

1 j
o

Loss tangent

Loss tangent =

But the dielectric relaxation time was: d =

Loss tangent =

And:

neff ( ) =

1
1 j
o
d

Loss tangent

Loss Tangent and Dielectric Relaxation Time - II

There are two possible scenarios:
High frequency and/or low conductivity case (e.g. lossy dielectrics)

d >> 1

or

>> 1

The frequency is much greater than the inverse dielectric relaxation time
The conductive medium does not have enough time to react to the
electromagnetic wave
No appreciable currents flow in the conductive medium
Low frequency and/or high conductivity case (e.g. Imperfect metals)

d << 1

or

<< 1

The frequency is much smaller than the inverse dielectric relaxation time
The conductive medium has enough time to react to the electromagnetic wave
Appreciable currents flow in the conductive medium

Waves in a Conductive Medium Lossy Dielectrics

Plane waves:

r r
E (r ) = x Eo e j k z
Refractive index

Dispersion relation

n ( )
k = eff
c

1 j
o

neff ( ) =

Lossy dielectric approximation:

<< 1

If

k' =

neff ( )

then:

k = k ' j k ' ' =

k' ' =

1 j
c o
2

1
=
= loss tangent
d

1 j

o
2

k '' z

2
k'

r r
E (r ) = x Eo e j k z
r r
E (r ) = x Eo e j k ' z e k '' z

Waves in a Conductive Medium Imperfect Metals

Now consider the case when:

d << 1

or

<< 1

The frequency is much smaller than the inverse dielectric relaxation time
The conductive medium has enough time to react to the electromagnetic wave
Appreciable currents flow in the conductive medium

Current Density: J = E

z
y

Plane wave

These currents try to screen out the magnetic field and, therefore, prevent the
electromagnetic wave from going into the conductor

Waves in a Conductive Medium Imperfect Metals

Plane waves:

r r
E (r ) = x Eo e j k z

Dispersion relation

Refractive index

neff ( ) =
1 j
o

n ( )
k = eff
c

1
=
= loss tangent
d

Imperfect metal approximation:

Suppose

k' =

>> 1

k = k ' j k ' ' =

o
2

o
2

(1 j )
j
=
2 o
o

neff ( )

then:

(1 j ) = 1 (1 j )

k' ' =

o
2

2
= 2
k'

= penetration depth or skin-depth

Waves in a Conductive Medium Imperfect Metals

Due to current screening the wave decays within a few
skin-depths:
E

r r
E (r ) = x Eo e j k z
r r
E (r ) = x Eo e j k ' z e k '' z

r r
E (r ) = x Eo e j k ' z e

= penetration depth or skin-depth

Since the wavelength inside the medium is 2 , the wave hardly propagates one
wavelength distance into the medium

The screening current density, given by J = E , is non-zero only in a layer of

thickness equal to skin-depth near the surface

Waves in a Conductive Medium

Lossy Dielectrics

Imperfect Metals

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