EE 485, Winter 2004, Lih Y.

Lin

Chapter 5 Electromagnetic Optics

- Introduce “vector” nature of light

*
Electrical field: E (r , t )
*
Magnetic field: H (r , t )

5.1 Electromagnetic Theory of Light

* *
E (r , t ) and H (r , t ) must satisfy Maxwell’s equations.

In free space
∂E
∇ × H = ε0 (5.1-1)
∂t
∂H
∇ ×E = −µ 0 (5.1-2)
∂t
∇ ⋅E = 0 (5.1-3)
∇ ⋅H = 0 (5.1-4)
1 Farad
ε 0 : Electric permittivity = × 10 −9 ( ) in MKS units
36π Meter
Henry
µ 0 : Magnetic permeability = 4π × 10 −7 ( ) in MKS units
Meter

The wave equation

* *
All components of E (r , t ) and H (r , t ) (Ex , Ey , Ez , Hx , Hy , Hz ) satisfy the
wave equation:
2 1 ∂ 2u
∇ u− 2 2 =0 (5.1-5)
c0 ∂t
1
c0 =
ε 0µ 0
In free space, Maxwell equations and wave equations are linear, therefore principle
of superposition applies.

Maxwell’s equations in a medium

Assume no free electric charges or currents. Need two more vector fields:
*
D (r , t ) : Electric flux density, or electric displacement
*
B (r , t ) : Magnetic flux density

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∂D
∇ ×H = (5.1-7)
∂t
∂B
∇ ×E = (5.1-8)
∂t
∇ ⋅D = 0 (5.1-9)
∇ ⋅B = 0 (5.1-10)
D = ε 0E + P (5.1-11)
B = µ 0H + µ 0 M (5.1-12)
P : Polarization density (macroscopic sum of the electric dipole
moments that the electric field induces)
M : Magnetization density (macroscopic sum of the magnetic dipole
moments that the magnetic field induces)
In a non-magnetic medium (assumption of this course), M = 0
→ B = µ 0H (5.1-13)

Boundary conditions
Assume no free charges or surface currents.
In a homogeneous medium, E , H , D , B are continuous.
At the boundary between two dielectric media, the tangential components of E and
H, and the normal components of D and B are continuous.

Intensity and power

S =E × H : Poynting vector (direction and magnitude of power
flux)
I = S : Power flow across a unit area normal to S

5.2 Dielectric Media

* *
- Linear: P (r , t ) = constant ×E (r , t )
- Non-dispersive: Response is instantaneous. P (t0 ) does not depend on
E (t < t0 ) (An idealization. Any physical system has a finite response time).
*
- Homogeneous: P (E ) does not depend on r .
- Isotropic: P (E ) is independent of the direction of E .

A. Linear, Nondispersive, Homogeneous, and Isotropic Media

P = ε 0 χE at any position and time (5.2-1)
χ : Electric susceptibility (scalar constant)
D = ε 0 (1 + χ)E ≡ εE (5.2-2,3)

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ε: Electric permittivity of the medium

ε
εr ≡ = 1 + χ : Dielectric constant
ε0
∂E
∇ ×H = ε (5.2-4)
∂t
∂H
∇ ×E = −µ 0 (5.2-5)
∂t
∇ ⋅E = 0 (5.2-6)
∇ ⋅H = 0 (5.2-7)
Wave equation:
2 1 ∂ 2u
∇ u− 2 2 =0 (5.2-8)
c ∂t
1 c
c= = 0 (5.2-9)
εµ 0 n
n = ε r = 1 + χ : Refractive index (5.2-10)

B. Nonlinear, Dispersive, Inhomogeneous, or Anisotropic Media

Inhomogeneous media
* * *
P = ε 0 χ(r )E , D = ε(r )E , n = n(r )
*
If the medium is locally homogeneous, that is, ε(r ) varies sufficiently slowly,
2 1 ∂ 2E
∇E − 2 * =0 (5.2-12)
c (r ) ∂t 2

Anisotropic media
P and E are not necessarily parallel.
If the medium is linear, non-dispersive, and homogeneous,
Pi = ∑ ε 0 χ ijE j i, j = 1, 2, 3 denote the x, y, and z components
j

{χ }: Susceptibility tensor (3 × 3 matrix)

ij

Di = ∑ ε ijE j
j

{ε }: Electric permittivity tensor

ij

Dispersive media
t
P (t ) = ε 0 ∫ x(t − t ' )E (t ' )dt ' (5.2-17)
−∞

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χ(ν) is the Fourier transform of x(t )

→ χ = χ(ω), ε = ε(ω), n = n(ω)

Nonlinear media
If the medium is homogeneous, isotropic, and nondispersive, P = Ψ (E ) for all
position and time, Ψ is a nonlinear function.
Wave equations:
2 1 ∂ 2E ∂ 2 Ψ (E )
∇ E − 2 2 = µ0 (5.2-20)
c0 ∂t ∂t 2
→ Principle of superposition no longer applicable

5.3 Monochromatic Electromagnetic Waves

Define complex amplitude:
E (r, t ) = Re{E(r ) exp( jωt )}
(5.3-1)
H (r, t ) = Re{H (r ) exp( jωt )}
Likewise, for P, D, B .

Maxwell’s equations
∇ × H = jωD (5.3-2)
∇ × E = − jωB (5.3-3)
∇⋅D = 0 (5.3-4)
∇⋅B = 0 (5.3-5)
D = ε0E + P (5.3-6)
B = µ0H (5.3-7)

Optical intensity and power

1
S ≡ E × H * : Complex Poynting vector (5.3-9)
2
Optical intensity S = Re{S} (5.3-8)

Linear, nondispersive, homogeneous, and isotropic media

∇ × H = jωε E (5.3-11)
∇ × E = − jωµ 0 H (5.3-12)
∇⋅E = 0 (5.3-13)
∇⋅H = 0 (5.3-14)
Components of E and H must satisfy the Helmholtz equation:

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 EE 485, Winter 2004, Lih Y. Lin

∇ 2U + k 2U = 0 (5.3-15)
k = nk 0

Inhomogeneous media
Eqs. (5.3-11) ~ (5.3-14) remain applicable, ε → ε(r ) .
For locally homogeneous, ε(r ) varies slowly with respect to wavelength
ε(r )
→ k = n(r )k0 , n(r ) =
ε0

Dispersive media
P = ε 0 χ ( ν )E (5.3-16)
D = ε(ν)E (5.3-18)
ε(ν) = ε 0 [1 + χ(ν)] (5.3-19)
→ The only difference between non-dispersive medium and dispersive medium is
that ε and χ are frequency-dependent. The Helmholtz equation applicable with
ε( ν )
k = n (ν ) k 0 , n (ν ) = (5.3-20)
ε0

5.4 Elementary Electromagnetic Waves

Consider monochromatic waves. Assume the medium is linear, homogeneous, and
isotropic.

The transverse electromagnetic (TEM) plane wave

E(r ) = E 0 exp(− jk ⋅ r ) (5.4-1)
H (r ) = H 0 exp(− jk ⋅ r ) (5.4-2)
k = nk 0
Substituting into Maxwell’s equations, we obtain:
k × H 0 = −ωε E 0
k × E 0 = ωµ 0 H 0
→ E, H, and k are mutually orthogonal.

E0 1 µ0 η
= ≡ η = 0 : Impedance of the medium (5.4-5,6)
H 0 n ε0 n
µ0
η0 = = 120π = 377Ω : Impedance of free space (5.4-7)
ε0

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2
E
Magnitude of Poynting vector S = 0 = I : Intensity (5.4-8)
2η

5.5 Absorption and Dispersion

A. Absorption
Light-absorbing dielectric materials have complex susceptibility,
χ = χ'+ jχ" (5.5-1)
and comlex permittivity,
ε = ε 0 (1 + χ)
The Helmholtz equation is still valid, but
k = 1 + χ'+ jχ"k0 (5.5-2)
is now complex-valued.
1
k ≡β− j α (5.5-3)
2
1
exp(− jkz ) = exp(− αz ) exp(− jβz )
2
→ Intensity attenuated by exp(-αz) after propagating a distance z.
α: Absorption coefficient (attenuation coefficient, or extinction
coefficient)
β: Propagation constant = nk0 (5.5-4)
The wave travels with a phase velocity c = c0 n .
α
n− j = 1 + χ'+χ" (5.5-5)
2k 0
→ Relating the refractive index and the absorption coefficient to the real and
imaginary parts of the susceptibility.

Weekly absorbing media

χ' << 1, χ" << 1
1
→ n ≈ 1 + χ' (5.5-6)
2
α ≈ −k 0 χ" (5.5-7)

B. Dispersion
χ = χ(ν), n = n(ν), c = c(ν) = c0 / n(ν)

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Pulse broadening (example: chromatic dispersion in optical fibers):

Measures of dispersion
Examples:
1) For glass optical components used with white light,
n −1
V number ≡ D
nF − nC
nF, nD, nC: Refractive indices at blue (486.1 nm), yellow (589.2 nm),
and red (656.3 nm)
dn
2)
dλ λ = λ
0

dθ d dθ d dn
Prism: =
dλ dn dλ

C. The Resonant Medium

d 2P dP
2
+ σ + ω02P = ω02 ε 0 χ 0E (5.5-12)
dt dt
↔ Classical harmonic oscillator for bound charges in the medium
d 2x dx F
2
+ σ + ω02 x = (5.5-13)
dt dt m

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m: Mass of the bound charge

κ
ω0 = : Resonant angular frequency
m
κ: Elastic constant
σ: Damping coefficient
F = eE : Force
Polarization density P = Nex , N: Number of charges per volume
e2 N
→ χ0 =
mε 0 ω02
Substituting E (t ) = Re{E exp( jωt )} and P (t ) = Re{P exp( jωt )} into Eq. (5.5-
12), we obtain:
 χ 0 ω02 
P = ε0  2 2  E = ε 0 χ( ν ) E (5.5-14)
ω
 0 − ω + j σω 
ν 02
χ( ν ) = χ 0 2 (5.5-15)
ν 0 − ν 2 + jν∆ν
σ
∆ν =
2π
ν 02 (ν 02 − ν 2 )
χ' ( ν ) = χ 0 (5.5-16)
(ν 02 − ν 2 )2 + (ν∆ν )2
ν 02 ν∆ν
χ" (ν) = −χ 0 (5.5-17)
(ν 02 − ν 2 )2 + (ν∆ν )2

ν << ν 0 → χ' (ν) ≈ χ 0 : Low - frequency susceptibility

χ" (ν) ≈ 0
ν >> ν 0 → χ' (ν) ≈ 0, χ" (ν) ≈ 0, the medium acts like free space

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ν 
ν = ν 0 → χ' (ν 0 ) = 0, - χ" (ν) =  0 χ 0
 ∆ν 
Near resonance:
ν0 / 2
χ( ν ) = χ 0 (5.5-18)
(ν 0 − ν) + j∆ν / 2
ν ∆ν 1
χ" (ν) = −χ 0 0 (5.5-19)
4 (ν 0 − ν )2 + (∆ν / 2 )2
ν − ν0
χ' ( ν ) = 2 χ" (ν) (5.5-20)
∆ν
∆ν : FWHM of χ" (ν)

5.6 Pulse Propagation in Dispersive Media

Assume the medium is linear, homogeneous, and isotropic,
α = α(ν), n = n(ν), β(ν) = 2πνn(ν) / c0
Pulsed plane wave in z-direction:
U ( z , t ) = A ( z , t ) exp[ j (ω0t − β0 z )] (5.6-1)
β 0 = β(ν 0 )
A ( z , t ) : Complex envelope of the pulse, slow varying in
comparison with ν 0
Knowing A (0, t ) → Need to determine A ( z , t )

Linear-system description
Suppose A (0, t ) = A(0, f ) exp( j 2πft )
A( z , f ) = A(0, f )H ( f ) (5.6-2)

H ( f ) = exp − α f +ν z − j (β f +ν − βν )z 
 1 
(5.6-3)
 2 0 0
 0

Determine A ( z , t ) from A (0, t ) :

Fourier transform

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∞
A(0, f ) = ∫ A (0, t ) exp(− j 2πft )dt
−∞
A( z , f ) = A(0, f )H ( f )
Inverse Fourier transform
∞
A ( z, t ) = ∫ A( z, f ) exp( j 2πft )df
−∞
Or by convolution:
∞
A ( z , t ) = ∫ A (0, t ' )h(t − t ' )dt ' (5.6-5)
−∞
∞
h(t ) = ∫ H ( f ) exp( j 2πft )df
−∞

The slowly varying envelope approximation

A ( z , t ) slowly varying in comparison with central frequency ν 0
→ A( z , f ) a narrow function of f with ∆ν << ν 0
Assume within ∆ν centered about ν0,
α(ν) ~ constant = α
 2πν 
β(ν) = n(ν)  varies slightly and gradually with ν.
c
 0 

H ( f ) = H 0 exp(− j 2πfτ d ) exp(− jπDν zf 2 ) (5.6-7)

H 0 ≡ exp(−αz / 2)

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τ d = z / υ g , υ g : Group velocity
1 1 dβ dβ
= = (5.6-8)
υ g 2π dν dω
1 d 2β d 2β d  1 
 : Dispersion coeff.
Dν = = 2π 2 = (5.6-9)
2π dν 2 dω dν  υ g 

Dispersion coefficient
υ g = υ g (ν ) → τ d = τ d ( ν )
dτ d d  z 
δτ = δν = δν = Dν zδν
dν dν  υ g 
Normal dispersion: Dν > 0 . Anomalous dispersion: Dν < 0 .
If the pulse has a spectral width σ ν (Hz), the spread of the temporal width
σ τ = Dν σ ν z (5.6-10)
Dν : second/m·Hz → Measure of the pulse time broadening per unit spectral width
per unit distance
Determine the shape of the transmitted pulse:
∞
A ( z , t ) = ∫ A (0, t ' )h(t − t ' )dt '
−∞

1  (t − τ d ) 2 
h(t ) = H 0 exp  jπ (5.6-11)
j Dν z  Dν z 

Wavelength dependence of group velocity and dispersion coefficient

c
υg = 0
N
(5.6-19)
dn(λ)
N = n (λ 0 ) − λ 0
dλ λ=λ 0

3 2
λ d n (λ ) sec
Dν = 0
( ) (5.6-20)
c dλ2 λ=λ m ⋅ Hz
2
0 0

In terms of wavelength:
Dλ dλ = Dν dν
λ 0 d 2 n (λ ) sec
Dλ = − 2
( ) (5.6-21)
c0 dλ λ=λ m ⋅ nm 0

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